Radiator Question

[Shifty Powers]

Ok so I have a 96 cobra. I am pretty sure it has had the fix done to the 97 radiator style. But what is it I should be looking for to make sure?

I will be upgrading the stock radiator so I just want to make sure before I do anything.

Its been too long and I forget all this stuff.

Thanks guys

 

[jgt58]

If it has a L looking bracket on the top of it in a corner then your car does not have the fix. If the sides are straight then you have the fix

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[jgt58]

This is a 96 radiator without the fix

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[jgt58]

This is a 96 with the fix

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[Shifty Powers]

Thank you! That is easy enough to see! Appreciate it

 

[jgt58]

Thank you! That is easy enough to see! Appreciate it

Np

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[jgt58]

If your replacing the radiator I would highly suggest rock auto for hoses from motorcraft. Don't forget to change the thermostat as well and look up how to properly bleed the system as well

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[shurur]

Be careful of the AL radiators.
Mine cracked at the corners, probably from chassis flex.
I had it tested at a radiator shop, as it was losing small amounts of coolant over time.
As I recall, It was a champion three core.

I would spend the money on the Mishimoto because they have the metal side brace-stabilizer with the mount posts.

 

[jgt58]

Be careful of the AL radiators.
Mine cracked at the corners, probably from chassis flex.
I had it tested at a radiator shop, as it was losing small amounts of coolant over time.
As I recall, It was a champion three core.

I would spend the money on the Mishimoto because they have the metal side brace-stabilizer with the mount posts.

1+ on this. I got an sve and survived one heat cycle

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[shurur]

https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/radiator-help-needed.1182729/

#17+

 

[dkblue98gt]

I have had an SVE aluminum radiator in my car for the last 2 years with no issues. I think it's important to use the more flexible Mishmoto upper mounts with an aluminum radiator.

 

[jgt58]

I have had an SVE aluminum radiator in my car for the last 2 years with no issues. I think it's important to use the more flexible Mishmoto upper mounts with an aluminum radiator.

I did.... Still a piece of junk

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[shurur]

I did.... Still a piece of junk

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Just what I suspected...they may be flexible but do not extend enough to angle the top of the thicker 3 core radiator rearward a bit. i.e. they still force the thicker 3 core to be pulled in or forced into position because the radiator posts are centered on a radiator that this thicker than OEM...when they should be positioned to make the mount points..

It seems only Mishimoto has this figured out..

 

[jgt58]

Just what I suspected...they may be flexible but do not extend enough to angle the top of the thicker 3 core radiator rearward a bit. i.e. they still force the thicker 3 core to be pulled in or forced into position because the radiator posts are centered on a radiator that this thicker than OEM...when they should be positioned to make the mount points..

It seems only Mishimoto has this figured out..

You sir win

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[Shifty Powers]

The Mishi is the one I would be getting. Tstat is only a few years old, hoses may be as well but no harm in replacing them at the same time

 

[wckdvnm]

I did.... Still a piece of junk

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Figured I’d come over here just to state that the SVE rads are just the cheap DNA Motorsports rads that are $125 with the stencils. Made in China knock offs of the champion design. The tanks being epoxied on to the radiators is what causes failures predominantly due to front end flex. NOTHING can help with that. Now I went and toured the champion facility where they build them. They braze the tanks like Mishimoto does, meaning cracking a champion would be caused by wrong coolant to water mix or poor mounts causing cracks at the tanks.

 

[Shifty Powers]

Ok so my 96 has not been updated.

How can I go about updating to the 97+ design?? I presume there is more to it then just getting the newer style radiator

 

[Shifty Powers]

eh?

 

[Shifty Powers]

If your replacing the radiator I would highly suggest rock auto for hoses from motorcraft. Don't forget to change the thermostat as well and look up how to properly bleed the system as well

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Hey man. Would you know what to do to switch from 96 style or 97-98

 

[TDUB003]

The TSB you're looking for is 96-25-12. You're correct that there's a lot more involved with it than simply switching the radiator.
Although I've never had cooling issues, my 1996 never had the TSB done either. I went down a similar path that you're going down now 2 years ago when my OEM fan finally died, which is when I found out about the TSB. I started trying unsuccessfully to piece together parts and then got extremely lucky by finding a complete kit that popped on eBay for $250 from a NOS retailer, but I haven't seen them since. They were DC'd years ago, and from what I read were $1,100 from Ford if you didn't bring your car in to have it done. I have the shop guide and the parts list that I can scan in and e-mail to you, but without the complete kit, it likely will be more trouble than what it's worth. The biggest culprit was the condenser. I've read posts from guys that said they switched out their thermostat, radiator, and condenser and that did the trick. 96 vs 97 Cobra AC condenser comparison