Any chance I didn't ruin the engine.

[BigGreenV10]

How durable are these engines my wife was driving it today and my fans didn't come on. The radiator blew a huge hole in the side and I was wondering are the 4.0 prone to cracking heads or head gaskets whats the chance I didn't ruin the engine.

 

[boominXplorer]

If it runs fine then it is good. If it now runs like crap its a good chance the head gaskets are gone. They commonly eat head gaskets when overheated under load

 

[BigGreenV10]

Well it sounds perfectly normal I am going to put a new radiator in it and hope for the best.

 

[05dakotatrac]

one recommendation is runing the explorer 5.0 radiator. buddy did it on his ranger and the temps dropped significantly

the stock trac rad. is 1" thick and the stock sploder 5.0 rad. is 2"

 

[2000StreetRod]

double row radiator

When the SOHC V6 became available in 1997 the stock radiator core was a double row. After a few years Ford decided to save a few bucks and went to the single row. I replaced my stock single row with a double row for a 1997 and have been very satisfied. I don't know if the Sport Trac and the Sport have identical radiators but I agree with 05dakotatrac that a double row is a good idea.

 

[BigGreenV10]

Mine is already the 2" wide one on a 01 ST so is there a different one you are speaking of?

 

[2000StreetRod]

2 inch thick

If your radiator looks like below

instead of the one below

then your radiator should be fine.

 

[BigGreenV10]

Ok it is the top one never saw one like the bottom before didn't know they even made them like that.

 

[BigGreenV10]

Once again this site has schooled me I decided to double check the radiator and took it out. I have the bottom one and never knew they made them like that. Now I have a question they offer two radiators for my year one says 1" core and the other says 2" core.

I am assuming they will interchange without modification right? If so I am gonna use the 2" core one for a extra cooling even though I don't really need it.

Oh and I don't have a fan shroud and I have a 180 degree stat to put in at same time. I am going to solder all the fan connections so this doesn't happen again.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

The overall dimensions are the same. The core on the 2" is the same thickness as the rest of the radiator. In other words it fills the empty space the 1" has.

 

[BigGreenV10]

Sweet I am there and I also ordered another fan controller gonna install them on complete separate circuits so if one breaks the other works.

 

[Benjam]

Put a new radiator cap on that truck before you blow another radiator to pieces..

Benjam

 

[429CJ-3X2]

When I wrote my previous post, I was thinking I had gone from the 1" to 2" core in my '94 Explorer. Just checked, and yes I did. If I remember right, there wasn't much difference in price.

And yes, get a new radiator cap!

 

[BigGreenV10]

Yeah what pressure should I use