Pinto Car Club of America

Hello everyone
Well my radiator started leaking from bottom now need to buy new one
Here's the issue. .can't find one for my 74 at all , only 71-73 or 75-80
What's my options ?
Does anyone know where I can find a 74 radiator that bolts right up
O'Reily's have me a listing for a 75 Murray radiator but dimensions were not correct
Anyone know where to find a direct fit
Thanks !

Take the radiator to a radiator shop, have it cleaned out and repaired.
Russ

I did call radiator shops and none would give me a garuntee
About $400 to repair if it's even repairable they said
May have to go that route but would rather get a new matching bolt up core if possible

This is what you need. I am not an expert, but I have had this 3 times over the years. It was not on a pinto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w36zxJWCgGk

Find another radiator shop..

I had my radiator cleaned and resoldered for $60. 

I checked other shops around and all were less than $100

Also try some of the hot rod sites like Summit, they sell new aluminum radiators.

I have a 74 and i bought a radiator listed for a 75 with AC for about 100 at rock auto. it bolted right in and works great. I would forget about trying to fix the old one.

1974 was an odd year because the 2.0 AND the 2.3 were offered. The early (71-73) cars had a 17" radiator and most of the 74 and up cars had a 20" radiator. However, I have seen '74 Pinto's with a 2.0 and a 17" radiator. Ford just used a flat plate to make up the difference.

You state that you have a 2.3 and that should be most common. There are only these aspects that are important:

1. Automatic or manual transmission (you didn't state).

2. Height and width.

3. Size and locations of the hose connectors.

With those aspect you can likely find a new, universal fit radiator for far less than the stated $400 to recore yours.  I've found radiators to be one of the more adaptable items on cars. I've swapped a 20" into my original 17" Pinto with a little cradle cutting and welding.  I've swapped a bigger 78 Dodge Diplomat radiator into my 73 Valiant simply redrilling a few holes to match. BTW, far better to redrill the car than the radiator because if you ever need to replace it on the road ... .  I even baling wired my old 17" Pinto radiator into my 91 Mazda 323 for a month or so until I was approved for the California $1,000 gross polluter buy back program. Like I said, radiator are adaptable.

As LTFM mentioned try a place like Summit and see if they have something that will fit. But I'm thinking that hotrodln was accurate in a 75 radiator would fit just fine.