Some of you may remember when I posted about a 2 core radiator in the HD cool/Electrical pkg, I had ordered the pkg, but got a 1 core rad, and after calling several parts depts,I found they didn't list a part number for a 2 core for the 4.6 automatic, yet Fords own website says "radiator up grade",and the owners manual has a listing for the amount of coolant required for a 1 and 2 core rad with the 4.6. The HD cooling/Electrical pkg comes with the Class III towing pkg.Anyway,today I met with a Ford field engineer and a customer service manager from the Boston reginal office.and we checked trucks on the lot looking for those that have either class III towing or HD cooling/electrical pkg's. We found 5 of them(class III), but 4 out of those 5 DID NOT have the 2 core, only 1 did!!these were 5.4's, however according to the window stickers, all had class III towing pkg,yet only 1 was equiped with the proper rad!!!there were automatics and sticks. Well,... my 2 core radiator has been ordered, and will be dealer installed when it comes in.this is a 2001, I really don't know what other years this applies to.

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2001 F-150 XLT S-CAB 4.6 "the full ride"
96 Taurus GL
93 Kenne-Bell Supercharged Mustang
"Injection is nice, but I perfer being blown!"

[This message has been edited by jstang (edited 01-25-2001).]

 

How do I tell if I have a two core? Obviously assuming that I do because the sticker says so is not good enough. What do I look for?

Thanks, Steve

 

According to my service dept. and checking several trucks on the lot and vehicle ordering literature from the salesman. The heavy duty cooling/heavy duty electrical package is a separare option from the towing pkg. All trucks that I checked with only the towing pkg. only had single core radiators. Mine also has a single core radiator that is 1 inch thick if this is not correct please let me know ASAP

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2000 F-150, XLT, SC, 5.4, 4X4, 355 LS, ORP, Black/Silver, class III, single CD, sliding glass, med. gray, keyless, elect. shift, engine date 8-18-99, Superchip. '93 Harley Fatboy Black & tons of chrome

 

Well I think I have the answer, but maybe not 'why'! I had the same question late last year after noticing that my 2000 radiator did NOT match the source book (the large spec binder that the dealership has; my brother is a sales guy at a smaller FORD dealer and gave me a copy of the 1999 F150 specs from that book before I ordered my 2000 so I could check out things).
Aaaanyway, I also took off and headed down to the dealer and checked out the trucks: NO 2-row radiators on any! Easy to tell from the passenger side (I think it is) by looking under the edge of the shroud. The shroud is dee(including mine) to accommodate the thicker radiator it appears. Probably the same part number for the shroud for the last 3 or 4 years.
The source book for 1999 lists the H. D. cooling package as having a dual-row radiator something like 2.1 inches thick. BUT THE 2000 SOURCE BOOK ONLY LISTS THE H.D. COOLING PACKAGE AS HAVING A 1.2" THICK RADIATOR, WITH THE *standard one* BEING SOMETHING LIKE 1.08" THICK (I can check precisely if someone wants, since my brother gave me the entire 2000 source book binder now that the 2001's are here)
In summary, it appears that the F150 H.D. cooling package does not, anymore, anywhere, carry the 2" thick double-core radiator. It could be still called out for the 7700# package or with the heavier duty automatic or something though. I do intend, however, to keep this in mind if I ever need a radiator replacement. At that time I may opt for more coolant capacity and order a 98 or 99 model 2-row job.
IMHO probably what FORD did was lower their production costs a little what with the fail-safe cooling that is standard with the Triton engines. a few dollars over 700 million trucks or whatever is a LOT of money that sure didn't get passed on to us if that's the story!
Sorry this is so long, but I think that this is the answer.

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

my 99 f150 4x4 w/tow pkg does indeed have the 2 row radiator.

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1999 F-150 4x4,short box,step side,4.6l Triton v-8, A.R.E. hard cover,cab steps,SteelHorse bed rug (liner), Mobil 1 5w30 all the way!! more to come !

 

Just went out and checked mine..it also has the 2 row radiator.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with super engine cooling/auxiliary transmission cooling HD package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil, build 7/2000

 

Charlsve Could you please check and see what radiator is supposed to be in my truck it has listed (Trailer towing group, class III-$400) but it does not have listed on the sticker as heavy duty cooling/electrical package and the dealer says the HD Cool/ Elect. is not included with the tow package. But is a separate option (something like code 315) If stickers worded like mine are supposed to have a thicker radiator then lots of us are going to be mad. My radiator is approx. 1 in. thick single core. Others members may want to check thiers too and respond.

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2000 F-150, XLT, SC, 5.4, 4X4, 355 LS, ORP, Black/Silver, class III, single CD, sliding glass, med. gray, keyless, elect. shift, engine date 8-18-99, Superchip. '93 Harley Fatboy Black & tons of chrome

 

Charlsve- Good information; if anyone has #s we can check them on our radiators. Mine has a tag up top/ driver's side.

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.

 

a 2 core will have 2 rows of cooling tubes about 1" thick each, a single core just 1 row of 1" tube. I don't know how it was in 2000, but in 2001 the class III towing group included the HD cooling/Elect package, which is a 2 core . as I said in my post only 1 out of the 5 trucks on the lot with the Class III package had the proper radiator in it!! the HD cooling is available as a seperate option, however it is included with class III package.

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2001 F-150 XLT S-CAB 4.6 "the full ride"
96 Taurus GL
93 Kenne-Bell Supercharged Mustang
"Injection is nice, but I perfer being blown!"

 

charlsve,if you want to come to CT I'll show you a F-150 with a 2 core in a 2001.the fact that the owners manual has spec's for it,and any dealer who I asked, told me super engine cooling is a radiator upgrade, and Fords own website lists it as a radiator upgrade.No where is there mention of a 2 core only coming on a 7700 payload package. Bottom line, I asked everyone, and could not get any answers(several dealers), if it was a mis-build or not available with a 4.6, If I needed another option to get it.I bought the option with the understanding I was getting a 2 core, thats what I was told, thats what I read, thats what I paid for,now either deliver or refund the $$$ for the option.

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2001 F-150 XLT S-CAB 4.6 "the full ride"
96 Taurus GL
93 Kenne-Bell Supercharged Mustang
"Injection is nice, but I perfer being blown!"

 

Like I said, I only have the 99 and 00 source books, and checked the actual thickness of the radiator specified in 00 for both the standard and supercool package. The radiators, as listed for the 5.4L, auto (did not differentiate between the 2 automatic types)were 1.02" thick single row and 1.42" thick single row.
Bubbadewsky, the Tow package is supposed to include the H.D. electrical package and the receiver hitch with 7-pin wiring. Larger shocks also(1.38" piston dia.) and the radiator upgrade if I read the ordering information correctly. It also comes with a trans cooler on models with the 4R70. Some have a 22-row and some a 14 row according to specs.This is for the 5.4. I think the 4.6 was the same but do not remember. I will check my window sticker (I kept it) to see what mine says. Build date of my truck was 8/29/00 I believe, at Norfolk).
*BUT* ANOTHER THING I NOTICED BETWEEN THE 99 AND OO LISTED SPECS WAS THAT THE h.d. ELECTRICAL OPTION FOR 1999 LISTED A HEAVIER DUTY ALTERNATOR UPGRADE FOR THE 5.4! HOWEVER THE 2000 SPECS DO *NOT* MENTION THAT AT ALL. [There is a summary section in the source book that is headed "Changes from last year's model". This section mentions things like the added XLT/Lariat roof console and other technical things but does *not* mention either the reduction in 2-row radiator use or that the Alternator upgrade may not be available on the 00 vs. the 99.
jstang: I only had the 99 and 00 book; it may be that either FORD decided to go back to 2 row radiators for 2001, or some combination of options that was not listed in the 2000 specs is now available. I am not an expert here, just shedding some light on a subject that I was curious myself about last year and when I found this thread it fit with my own questions. It appears you have a supercab, so could it be that these models went back to a thicker radiator? I do not know the GVW of the new Supercabs. Are they significantly heavier or something? All I know is that what is listed for the 00 radiator upgrade is that puny .4" extra thick single core radiator, where in the same spot for the 1999 was a 2-row. Most of the stuff that gets either upgraded or added for certain options is the same for the 4.6 as well as the 5.4.
Hope this was not to wordy or too many spelling mistakes! Gotta run.

ps: I'll check that window sticker tonight.

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

I have a 2000 F150 4x4 ORP. It did NOT have the towing package on the sticker. It had a four wire "flat" plug installed for trailer lights. I installed the hitch myself. The radiator has a smaller radiator or "second core" mounted in front on the driver's side of the main radiator. It has a similar size unit on the passenger side, which I have verified as a transmission cooler. The "second row" that people are talking about is not the radiator at all but is the A/C condensor which is sandwiched next to the main radiator although not as thick. Anyway, this iswaht I see.

 

BillD-

The small radiator in front, on drivers side is the Power steering cooler, the one on the pass side (behind bumper) is trans. Yes the forward coil is the ac, but if you look at the radiator from the engine side, look at the end caps...there should be "room" for one more row of coils....

would a 01' rad (2core) drop into a 00?? I would love the extra capacity, would help out the electric fans, and keep the trans a little cooler....

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2000 XLT Silver 5.4L SC 4X4 ORP 157"wb Ford Floormats, Mudguards,Cabin Air Filter, lighted emblems, lighted interior door handles(all 4) Chrome Grill (4x2 style), Diamondplate bed caps, Pro-Tech tool box, Air Box mod, Muth Signal Mirrors, Custom Gauge Pod-(water temp, trans temp)
Perma-cool 8" Electric Trans Cooler Fan, (2) Perma-cool 14" electrics, Superchip (flipchip), Map lights in overhead, rear pass, tinted windows, back up lights.

 

K jones: Ya, In the source book, I think I noted that the two different radiators for '00 had different fin densities. So probably that 1.42" radiator is much more efficient than the only-slightly-thinner 'standard' radiator. But the A/C condenser is further forward still than the cooling radiator, at least in my truck. The actual cooling radiator core thickness can only be seen from one small corner (pass side I think) without taking the upper shroud off.

BillD: The 2nd smaller of the two little radiators is, I think, for the power steering.

Shark99: I agree. There appears room for the thicker radiator in there. Possibly need substitue cradles or something but I doubt it because as you noted the end tanks (caps) seem the same size for both. I don't imagine that there would be any change to the trans cooling lines either because they attach to the tank, not the core. I imagine that in manufacture, since the tanks are plastic and crimped on to the core, it is a simple matter to make different core thicknesses to fit one standard size end tank? If so it would stand to reason that the lower rad supports are the same in all vehicles as well.

jstang: It seems you managed something I'd like to try.......getting the 2-core as a replacement, when it MAY not have been a mistake after all. Let us all know if it fits fine when you get it.



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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

Charlsve
If you could
I'd like to get a copy of that spec.
I have a 99 with a 5.4
no towing pkg but it has the hd cooling/elec pkg.
I have had it in before and asked about the rad. being hd
went out tonight and measured it
It's 1" thick

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99 XLT SC 4x4 STYLESIDE ORP 5.4,AUTO & 3.73 POSI
MED. TOREADOR RED
EXTANG TONEAU,BED MAT,
K&N FILTER & WOOD DASH KIT