Ford Thunderbird Aluminum Radiators 1955-2005

biddle

biddle

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Last seen
Joined
Mar 9, 2003
Thunderbird Year
2003
Ford Thunderbird Full Aluminum Performance Cooling Radiators. Please double check that the part fits your model/engine. Feel free to post replies with your installation photos/instructions below.

1955-1956-1957 Ford Thunderbird Y-Block Aluminum 3 Row Performance Cooling Radiator- Ebay Link

s-l1600 (2).jpg

1958-1959 Ford Thunderbird Frostbite Aircraft Aluminum Radiator 3 Row- Ebay Link
s-l1600 (3).jpg

1960-1961-1962 Ford Thunderbird Ebay Link
(please reply below if you find others)
CU-70318.jpg

1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 Ford Thunderbird- Ebay Link
Note: 1961-1963 & 1964-1966 had different fan guards, but this will fit with both.
s-l1600 (9).jpg

For 1964 1965 1966 Ford Thunderbird Full Aluminum Performance Cooling Radiator- Ebay Link
s-l1600 (1).jpg

1967-1968 4 ROW Aluminum Radiator for 1967-1968 Ford Thunderbird Ebay Link
s-l1600 (4).jpg

1969 Ford Thunderbird Aluminum 8 Rows Radiator Transmission Oil Cooler & 7" Cooling Fan Kit Universal Ebay Link
s-l1600 (5).jpg

1972-1973-1974-1975-1976-1977-1978-1979 Ford Thunderbird 3 Row Aluminum Radiator- Ebay Link
s-l1600 (6).jpg

1980-1981-1982-1983-1984-1985-1986-1987-1988 Ford Thunderbird Radiator - Ebay Link
s-l500.jpg

1994-1995-1996-1997 Ford Thunderbird Radiator- Ebay Link for 3.8 V6 // Ebay Link for 4.6 V8
s-l1600 (7).jpg


2002 Ford Thunderbird Radiator - Ebay Link
Hydraulic Cooling fan which was only in 2002- Ebay Link

2003-2004-2005 Ford Thunderbird Radiator- Ebay Link
s-l500 (1).jpg

If you need a radiator sticker decal for the 2002-2005 check out this post- https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum...engine-radicator-fan-decals.11711/#post-71853
radiator-decal.jpg
 
Last edited:
looking to replace the radiator on my thunderbird. i was looking to upgrade to a full aluminum one to remove the issue of a weak plastic under high heat. but they only seem to make them for the 4.6L, i have the 3,8L so my question is, are the radiators interchangeable throughout both engines or would i need to find something else for the v6? if anybody knows please let me know!! thnk you!!
 
remove the issue of a weak plastic
This is a common misconception. The "plastic" being weak. The reality is, these radiators typically outlast aluminum and are more resistant to cracking and are not subject to corrosion. Because of the harsh operating conditions, the radiator tanks are made from glass-reinforced nylon, a plastic that features a high-softening point. The high-softening-point nylon plastic is what helps the plastic radiator tank withstand the pressure and temperatures involved.

Our OEM Jeep radiator lasted 22 years. Folks that replace with Aluminum report failure after a few short years or even months.

With that said there are links above for the V6- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_...teid=0&campid=5338236430&toolid=20008&mkevt=1
 
So I belive a 55 has a air cooled transmission. I need to get a new radiator for my bird. If I buy the one with transmission cooler lines can I cool my transmission or would I need to replace the transmission. I belive in 56 they put a cooler in for the transmission.
 
On 1955 and early 1956 Thunderbirds, with a Ford-O-Matic transmission, the torque converter is air cooled. The air enters the converter housing through a removable duct on the left side of the housing. A screen in the inlet duct filters out gravel and road dirt, and can be removed for cleaning and inspection. Fins on the outside of the impeller housing draw air into the converter housing. A baffle directs the air over the entire converted surface. The air is exhausted through an outlet on the side of the converter housing.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Converter Cooling Diagram.jpg
Inside the Converter Housing
Air Cooled Converter Housing (Inside).jpg

Outside the Converter Housing

Air Cooled Converter Housing (Outside).jpg
 
Back
Top