Is a 3 core radiator enough for a stock 5.0?

twilightcall · 06-12-2003, 05:36 PM

Is a 3 core enough to keep a 5.0 cool in 95 degree heat with a/c on all the time? My car has an external trans. cooler in front of the condensor. Would 4 be a better choice? I just want it to run very cool. Thanks.

TMASTER · 06-12-2003, 06:38 PM

Well I bought a 3 core stock radiator, they said it was a 3 core, but its only a 2 core. The 3rd core is for Automatic trans..... Anyways I run a 160 thermo with it and i have a new water pump. It gets the job done, The temp guage runs at 50% when I have the AC on, durring the middle of the day driving, in Texas. At the stop lights it goes up slightly to (50%-75%). Night driving it runs at 25% on the guage which is right for a 160 thermo.
If I was to get a new radiator I would go with at real 3 or 4 core radiator. Especially if you run pulleys, I think pulleys slow the water pump down.

twilightcall · 06-12-2003, 06:55 PM

Thanks. I bought a 3 core Maxicool from Advanced Auto. It has the auto trans. line but I can just keep them plugged since I have an external trans. cooler. I hope that this does it. I have a 3 core now but it has all kinds of deposits in it. I am thinking about installing an electric fan in front of the condensor then that should take care of it.

82 GT · 06-12-2003, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twilightcall
I have a 3 core now but it has all kinds of deposits in it. I am thinking about installing an electric fan in front of the condensor then that should take care of it.

Then why don't you just flush the radiator or better yet take it to a radiator shop and have them hot tank it for you?
Those deposits are probably 90% of your problem.

06-12-2003, 05:36 PM	#1
twilightcall Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 86	Is a 3 core radiator enough for a stock 5.0? Is a 3 core enough to keep a 5.0 cool in 95 degree heat with a/c on all the time? My car has an external trans. cooler in front of the condensor. Would 4 be a better choice? I just want it to run very cool. Thanks.

06-12-2003, 06:38 PM	#2
TMASTER Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: TEXAS Posts: 161	hmhmhm Well I bought a 3 core stock radiator, they said it was a 3 core, but its only a 2 core. The 3rd core is for Automatic trans..... Anyways I run a 160 thermo with it and i have a new water pump. It gets the job done, The temp guage runs at 50% when I have the AC on, durring the middle of the day driving, in Texas. At the stop lights it goes up slightly to (50%-75%). Night driving it runs at 25% on the guage which is right for a 160 thermo. If I was to get a new radiator I would go with at real 3 or 4 core radiator. Especially if you run pulleys, I think pulleys slow the water pump down.

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06-12-2003, 06:55 PM	#3
twilightcall Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 86	Thanks. I bought a 3 core Maxicool from Advanced Auto. It has the auto trans. line but I can just keep them plugged since I have an external trans. cooler. I hope that this does it. I have a 3 core now but it has all kinds of deposits in it. I am thinking about installing an electric fan in front of the condensor then that should take care of it.