I had to replace a damaged radiator and decided to pull one from a salvage yard.

I did a lot of research into narrowing down which radiator I needed (2001 Ford F-150 XLT, 4.6L, automatic) and pinned it down to XL3Z8005DA, which looked exactly like my radiator. The extra questions on the auto parts websites only asked whether I had towing or a plow (I don't).

However the two salvage yards I went to both told me their radiators came off a standard transmission, not an automatic. Does this make any difference?

I brought my bad radiator in and we looked them over and we agreed they both looked identical. Even the transmission oil threads were identical. I went ahead and picked it up. Any thoughts here? I just want to make sure the radiator is universal for the 4.6L engines.

 

As long as it has the trans cooler, it will work fine.

 

Thanks much.. I'll install it this weekend and report back.

 

With automatic there is a 1 or 2 row radiator. If given a choice get the 2 row. It will increase capacity and cooling in the summer or pulling a hill.

 

I do have one question about the transmission fluid lines... when I was trying to push the fan shroud out of the way, the lines resisted some somewhat, but at some point they both suddenly resisted a lot less to where they felt really loose and I could easily move them around from side to side several inches. Is there a retaining clip somewhere that they might have popped out of, or is it possible I broke the lines?

I would trace them back to the transmission but my truck is parked outside and we've had tons of rain, so I haven't been able to go underneath and look at this.

 

OK, I'm confirming that the "standard" radiator fit perfectly. There was no problem with the loose transmission lines. The looseness was from short rubber hose lengths they were attached to.

However after I traded out the radiator, I discovered one of the U-nuts was missing on the new one, which receives the bolt holding the fan shroud on. So I have had to tie the shroud to the attachment point with wire. I'm looking around trying to find a replacement clip but I have no idea what it's called and it doesn't appear on the Ford parts diagram.

 

Go back to the junkyard and have them grab one off your old radiator or off another one.