So I have been dealing with some overheating issues on the truck and I have decided to upgrade to a 2 row radiator. I will keep you guys posted on my results.

2000 125K 2wd 4.2L

-flushed and refilled coolant 60% coolant 40% Distilled water.
-New OEM motorcraft 195 degree themostat.
-New Autozone duralast Waterpump.
-New upper and lower radiator hoses (gates)
-New clutch fan
-New serpintine belt (gates)
Coming soon Visteon 2 row radiator.

this better fix the problem.

 

I have installed the 2 row radiator from autoparts warehouse: 1997-2003 Ford F-150 - Visteon Radiator
Part Number: W0133-1703077Description:2 Row Core. w/ 3/8" Flare Fittings 2 Row Core. 2 Row

According to their website this will not fit the 4.2L V6. Well it will and so far this has fixed my issues. I am pleased with the part and feel as though Ford should have offered a 2 row radiator on many of the 1/2 ton trucks.

I have a few pics and some tips to pass along just so that sometime in the future someone will be able to do this job with some additional information.

Here is the before picture with the original radiator installed:


Next, to make this less messy you may want to get a pump and suck out the coolant from the top and you will not have to drain as much out from the bottom, keep in mind that I could only drain about 1/2 gallon from the drain plug on the radiator since it was partially plugged.

 

Here is a pic showing the new radiator. Everything fits perfectly.




Hopefully this one will last longer than 120K

cheers

 

No shroud?

 

haven't finished putting all the plastic back on.....I wanted to test it out for a couple of days before everything goes back on.

so far so good. logged about 30 miles or so with a/c on....

 

I was wondering if the shroud is going to fit now.

 

I wonder how well that would work with e-fans.

 

I was wondering the same thing. I like many am running dual 16" e-fans on the stock radiator...I bet it'd help a lot on this one too. This will be a mod I do, but I don't think i need the 3/8" trascooler/lines.

Good job and thanks for posting

 

Neat! 2 row radiators offers exceptional cooling rates compared to single row radiators.

A buddy of mine has a 3 row radiator in his Jeep Wrangler...

 

I had a 4 row in a 1969 Chevy Biscayne. Definitely not the stock radiator.

 

Key word list:

Overheating, Runs Hot, Radiator Replacement, 2 ROW, two row upgrade, 2000, Ford F-150, 4.2 V-6, manual transmission,

I am seeding this to the Internet to say thanks for the people who have taken the time to post information on Ford F-150 cooling issues in the past, and help those facing the same problem in the future.

This post details the replacement of the stock one row radiator in a 2000 Ford F-150 4.2 V-6 Manual transmission truck with a larger two row radiator, this improves the overall cooling capacity of the vehicle. The compatible two row radiator was intended as a replacement unit for a 1998 Ford F-250 equipped with a V-6 4.2 engine. I bought mine from the “Radiator Barn” the box was marked Kool 1st PN#2555.

My problem stared on one day in ninety-five degree heat in a traffic jam on the freeway, the notice that I had a problem was when the AC stopped blowing cold, then I looked down a the dashboard to see the engine temperature gauge pegged. I turned off the AC, turned on the heat, and limped off the freeway. I am the original owner of the F-150, bout it new in 2000, it now has 165K miles on it, and other than a broken intake valve spring, I have had no other major issues with it.

Started with the usual suspects, Flushed the cooling system, replaced the fan clutch, pulled & back flushed the radiator and installed a new thermostat. All of this helped, but if I put it on the highway and pushed it hard with the AC on, after a while the cooling system would start to loose the battle and head towards overheating.

The knowledge that I had a potential issue with overheating, annoyed me, as it was not fixed. After searching the net a finding several posts of like issues and observations that the single row radiator was a cost effective solution for Ford, and did not have the additional cooling capacity to compensate for aging of the truck and losses of cooling efficiency. “It should have been a two row radiator.” was the prevailing thought.

Finding the proper two row (2in) replacement was a bit of detective work, which I hope to save you, the effort by providing this: “Order a replacement unit for a 1998 Ford F-250 equipped with a V-6 4.2 engine.”

jrj

 

Way to bump an old thread

Nothing wrong with my old single-row but for peace of mind:

 

I have been running the two row upgrade on my F150 for a couple years now and the temperature has always been extremely consistent. I have at times wondered if the guage was stuck, but alas it is just exactly where it should be based on the thermostat.

You will find that this was one of your better investments.

 

The temp gauge shouldn't move once you've reached closed loop