radiator core support - Diesel Forum

ncfirefighter46 · 03-14-2006, 11:43 PM

okay guys and gals, i have been trying to restore this 94 IDI turbo and i have ran in to a problem and i was wondering if anyone had the same problem or might know why? i have ordered 4 supports for this diesel and none of them are the same as mine or even close? did ford make some speical trucks for companies?? i have now decided to take it to a machine shop and have a support made, i know my radiator is massive it has to slots on the side the sit on pins or dowels stiking out of the side of the support and the radiator is about 5 inches thick, the support from the frame mounts sticks down about a foot or more down through the center of the frame,

OkieGringo · 03-15-2006, 02:11 AM

I think we're gonna need photos of the support that you have. I don't know of any that the rad protrudes below the frame. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]OkieG

ltl_jrw · 03-15-2006, 05:56 AM

Unless you have something totaly out of this world the radiator support from a 87 diesel pickup will fit, it did in mine........ Jim

hesutton · 03-15-2006, 08:19 AM

I put a front clip from a '95 FSuperduty PSD on my project truck and the IDI radiator just dropped into the PSD rad. support without a single modification. It was like that PSD rad. support was made for my IDI radiator. It is strange that you are getting all these different rad. supports. Might be easier to just hunt one down at a local boneyard. I have some photos of the clip in my galleries if you think that will help ya.

Heath

OkieGringo · 03-15-2006, 11:02 AM

I just got a catalog from www.lmctruck.com the other day. They sell a rad support and lotsa other things for these old trucks. Some are ridiculously expensive and others are quite reasonable. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

FordCummins1 · 03-15-2006, 12:16 PM

Shouldn't be anything special.

IIRC - There should be 3 flavors for the 92-96. Gas, Diesel W/O AC and Diesel with AC.

ncfirefighter46 · 03-18-2006, 08:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I put a front clip from a '95 FSuperduty PSD on my project truck and the IDI radiator just dropped into the PSD rad. support without a single modification. It was like that PSD rad. support was made for my IDI radiator. It is strange that you are getting all these different rad. supports. Might be easier to just hunt one down at a local boneyard. I have some photos of the clip in my galleries if you think that will help ya.

Heath

[/ QUOTE ]

that is what mine looks like but there is none in my local boneyards. and they said there was N/A anymore. but they body shop is fixing mine.

a91f250 · 03-18-2006, 10:11 PM

I ran into a similar problem with my 91 f250 4x4 with A/C. Mine dips below frame level too. No one seems to make a rad. support for my model with A/C but they do make one for a truck without A/C. The correct one has been discontinued by Ford. Someone told me they were the same. All I would have to do was transfer the mounting tabs for the A/C condenser from my old one to the new one. So I ordered a new after market one. Well it was definetly not the same. After some head scratching I decided that I could cut the "U" shaped part out of the new one and transfer the old "U" into the new rad. support. It took a lot of work including drilling out 40+ spot welds but it turned out really good. I also welded in several reinforcements in places I have seen them break in the past. The cost of the new "incorrect" support was about $180 w/shipping. I don't know if you can apply this to a 1992+ but hope this helps.

ncfirefighter46 · 03-18-2006, 10:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I ran into a similar problem with my 91 f250 4x4 with A/C. Mine dips below frame level too. No one seems to make a rad. support for my model with A/C but they do make one for a truck without A/C. The correct one has been discontinued by Ford. Someone told me they were the same. All I would have to do was transfer the mounting tabs for the A/C condenser from my old one to the new one. So I ordered a new after market one. Well it was definetly not the same. After some head scratching I decided that I could cut the "U" shaped part out of the new one and transfer the old "U" into the new rad. support. It took a lot of work including drilling out 40+ spot welds but it turned out really good. I also welded in several reinforcements in places I have seen them break in the past. The cost of the new "incorrect" support was about $180 w/shipping. I don't know if you can apply this to a 1992+ but hope this helps.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah that is what the body shop is doing for mine right now everything from the mounts up was the same but the u was not the same, so they are cutting my old one out and welding to the new one i think, i know i am goign to have to use mounting bushings off a 80 model truck to go on my truck i may need to mod mine alittle but i can not afford the mounts at 80 each i have ran out of cash now for all new body parts and fiber glass and paint and the luk flywheel.

jamesl · 03-18-2006, 10:57 PM

On my 1986 Diesel, there was a "Super engine cooling" option. This used the radiator support that dropped down.

ncfirefighter46 · 03-18-2006, 11:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
On my 1986 Diesel, there was a "Super engine cooling" option. This used the radiator support that dropped down.

[/ QUOTE ]

well i think this one had this option i am not for sure this truck was company truck and i think they have a heavy duty rear end in it and it has a ball in the bed of the truck and has a crap load of springs on the rear, so i dont know?