1983 f350 c&c

[tophatf350]

my 1983 has the 400 10,000 gvw can i use the 460 radiator with the 400 engine

[Gary Lewis]

You may have missed the email that asked you to make your first post an introduction in the New Members Start Here folder.  Many people seem to miss that email so you aren't alone.  However, we ask that because we hold everyone to the guidelines and they are posted in that folder and we want everyone to have had a chance to see them.

So before we get to the radiator, can you assure me that you've read the guidelines?

[tophatf350]

sorry i did miss the introduction on my email

[tophatf350]

hello new member here and sorry i missed the intro on my email.amazing how much info is available here.my question is will a 460 radiator bolt in place of the 400 radiator and it is manual trans thanks

[Gary Lewis]

You didn't really say that you've read the guidelines, but since you can lead a horse to water... I'll assume you have.

It is hard to answer your question since the radiator support changed in '85.  But a 1983/4 460 radiator will bolt into a 1980/4 radiator support.  In fact, some 460's used the same radiator as the 400's did, as you can see on our page at Documentation/Cooling Systems/Radiator Part #'s.

But a later radiator, like an 1985+, won't bolt into the early radiator support that a 400 would have had since the 400 was only available in 1980 - 82.  However, you can modify the early support to take the later radiator, as explained on our page at Documentation/Cooling Systems/Radiator Support.

[tophatf350]

yes sir i read the guidelines and thanks for the response very helpful

[Gary Lewis]

[tophatf350]

my 1983 f350 has the clutch fan with a/c would the engine cool better with a solid 5 blade fan and what was the reason for ford using the clutch fan with manual trans

[Gary Lewis]

The fan clutch is to reduce noise and drag on the engine.  You rarely need the fan when moving, so they put a thermostatically-controlled clutch on the fan to turn it off when below a certain temp.  And they put a really aggressive fan on, so when the clutch comes in it really pulls the air and makes a lot of noise.

So a clutch that is properly operating is hard to beat.  And it is very unlikely that the engine will cool better without a clutch as most fans aren't as aggressive as the ones with a clutch since they would make serious noise all the time if the were.

Are you having cooling problems?

[tophatf350]

engine runs good 97000 miles just replacing a few things radiator waterpump hoses belts fan clutch.just trying the best route for cooling.i understand about the clutch on the fan now.thanks for that info.i cant seem to locate the right size radiator on amazon my radiator is approx 21h 24w 2.5thick the radiators shown are 27.5 tall any suggestions on where to perchase the right one.also will the replacement fan clutch automatically be heavyduty being its cab and chassis.any upgrades ? thanks

[tophatf350]

also my truck was built november 1982

[Gary Lewis]

I wouldn't have thought that a cab and chassis truck would have a different radiator than a pickup.  The Master Parts Catalog doesn't show them as different and Rock Auto shows that the radiator should be 27 1/2" high.

Maybe they are measuring differently than you are?

[tophatf350]

thats what is throwing me a curve the height is 21.25 same from bottom of core support to top

[tophatf350]

ok i see they are listing the 27.5 as height but thats actually the width from side to side sorry for the confusion thanks

[tophatf350]

anyone know the cam specs on a 1971 400