2 core or 3 core - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

sleepwalker · 04-05-2005, 23:26

i'm getting a new radiator as the current one is stuffed and after talking to a couple of shops, a lot of them have recommended using an aftermarket 2 core radiator coz apparently they are 25% more efficient than the 3 core one as the 3 core one has much smaller diameter pipes running through them and get clogged up easily. the car in question is a nc fairlane with a 302W efi.
i'm planning on getting twin ef thermofans for it as well in the near future.
my question is, is there any truth in what these guys are saying or not? are the aftermarket 2 core radiators better than the 3 core ones.
the prices i got so far are $198 for a 2 core one and $264 for a 3 core one.

Zoltan · 04-05-2005, 23:46

All I can say is that last time I bought a new radiator I was talked into 3 row. I can't say it made any difference, but that was about 3 years ago. Engine has never overheated but gauge will go up to 3/4 on a 38º day stuck in traffic with a/c on. But then I hear the clutch fan kick in. I thought a 3 row radiator would do better than that, but there you go -as I say, never overheated, never lost coolant. I've never been inclined to go down the thermo-fan path, but am considering an auto trans oil cooler. Car is a 3.9 NA.

ebxr8240 · 04-06-2005, 02:42

Depends I guess you could get a 2 row with thinner tubes as well?
I'd use 3 row...Ask about alloy rad. they are getting cheaper these days, less issues with corrosion.No Copper to cause electronisis [sp]

FordFan86 · 04-06-2005, 04:24

my NC fairlane (also 302w) will sit at the one temperature all day long, i love it... (very low, only just on the graph) but it just ticked over 200,000 klms :(

dalesf150 · 04-06-2005, 05:18

Ive just put a 3core radiator in my nc 5.0 It had a 2 core already it hasn't cured my overheeating porblem but the 3 core has reduced the level the temperature spikes to. guess the 3 works better than the 2. Ive oredered a high flow water pump from the states hope that cures the prob there's not much left to replace.

my vote is for the 3 core the bigger potential csa of the 2 core might flow more coolant but if the 3 core drop's the temp more it's doin it's job better.

ZCFairlane · 04-06-2005, 05:48

For my money I would go with the more cores, I did.

But at the end of the day it is more about design and airflow through the core and fins per inch .

Link attached might help

http://www.are.com.au/feat/techtalk/focrad.htm

Teeldama · 04-06-2005, 06:36

Changing to a 3 core is a good idea, as long as the number of fins per inch does not alter with the new rad. Adding an extra core allows a larger surface area for the air passing through the radiator to remove heat, but if you increase the fins per inch then you restrict the amount of air that can pass through the radiator, reducing the cooling efficiency.
Another idea which may be cheaper is to increase the air flow through the radiator with a fan that has more blades, this will increase the air flow over the cores, remove heat more efficiently, especially with a thermatic hub, but the trade off is that with more blades on the fan it takes a little more horsepower to turn it, robbing a small amount from the engine.

svo347 · 04-06-2005, 07:41

I use a copper 3 core & EF twin thermos & love it...
also check out www.norcom.net.au/~bpt/Thermo%20Fan%20Kit.htm

sleepwalker · 04-06-2005, 16:42

thanks for the info guys. i'm still inclined to go three core over two core.
what would be the cost for a 3 core alloy radiator?

ebxr8240 · 04-07-2005, 01:15

I could have got 2 core alloy for about same price as copper...
But I went custom 4 core alloy...Looks like an intercooler...
$250/ $300 for 2 core but $800 4 core due to custom end tanks...
Graeme