Pinto Car Club of America

My birthday is Thursday and wouldn't you know the local Pick A Part is celebrating it by having a 50% off sale that weekend! So, I plan on going down Friday with my tools and a list.

One of the main things on my mind is the radiator. Is the stock 2.0 radiator likely too small for the turbo 2.3? It seems so.  I've heard some of the Mustang II radiators are bigger.  I've been told they don't bolt right in.  But, I do have an angle grinder and a welder and a sense of quality that shouldn't put too much of a frown on Pintony's face for cutting into the support.

Aftermarket radiators are out of the question as they cost too much. I'm looking at about $20-$25 at the Pick A Part sale for a factory original.  So, does anyone have words of wise experience for me regarding radiators that will fit without too much modification?

By the way, my car is a '73. I'm not sure if later years differ (but would like to know).  With the 2.3 installed there is no more than 3/8" clearance between the pulley bolts and the 2.0 radiator in mock up.

Which brings me to the fan.  I'm going to install a 16" pusher. I've been mocking it up today.  The concept of running an engine driven fan seems too tight. As best I can tell only one of those aluminum flex fans will fit.  Those flex fans that have no forward projection. Even then the clearance for the upper radiator hose seems limited.

As always any input is appreciated.
Tom

 :happy_bday:from Ernie :lol:

Tom I like to use the 74 mustang radiator there a little larger for the hot weather. Oh yea dont forget to wear youre cone hat Thursday. Fred   :lol:

2.3 ranger w a/c  pinto with a/c v6 pinto any year. i plan on running stock radiator
with oil cooler and remote dual oil filter.


which bring a question to mind for me can u run oil though a auto trans line's on a radiator and achieve a cooling effect?

IIRC: The LATER Pintos with a 2.3 or a 2.8 had one of 3 radiators:
(I don't know what the 2.0 had in 74)

1) 2.3 W/O A/C.
2) 2.3 W A/C.
3) 2.8.

The 2.3 with air has a wider core (this is what I run), and the 2.8 ones have the hoses on the opposite sides (at least the top one). The 2.3 ones with and without a/c do take different hoses, but you can interchange them if needed.

I have a radiator from a 67 Mustang V8 and it lines up perfectly to a 74 and later Pinto radiator support (NO modifications to mount holes), but again, the hoses connect on the wrong sides.

Keep in mind that NO electric fan will move air like the stock mechanical one. Pusher fans do not work as well as pullers of the same size.

Bill

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