North American Turbocoupe Organization



Where to find an OEM radiator for an 88
jtmbristol Offline
Member
#1
So I tried the search function and get 500 returns everytime, whats up with that ?

Looking for an OEM, exact fit replacement radiator. I see radiators listed on Rockauto, Napa, Advance etc but reading reviews none are exact fit and require mods to make them work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :-)
88 'Bird, 5spd, .63 T-3, ported E6, 3" into dual 2 1/2 exhaust, 1.89/1.59 valves with Boport 1.5 cam, Ram Powergrip clutch, stock IC.
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Tbird-fanatic Offline
Senior Member
#2
Just get one for a fox mustang. Same exact thing. I tend to get one for a v8, I like the cooling of the bigger one.
1988 Tbird TC - in pieces - barn find - mods beginning while restoring
2000 F250SD XLT CCSB 7.3 Powerstoke - Daily Driver - AFE intake, Swamps tunes, straight piped
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turbird77 Offline
Member
#3
Spectra Premium part #CU138 is about as close to an exact replacement for the stock radiator as your gonna get from the aftermarket. I had one in my TC for awhile, and it does fit almost just like the original. The DS upper rad mount rubber bushing needs to be modified slightly, for it to mount securely like the original though.
88 TC - Work in Progress.
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boosted chicken Offline
Senior Member
#4
I use the Autozone one for a fox Mustang. Lightweight aluminum and cools great. Like 77 said, just a little trimming of the upper rubber bushing...no big deal.
88 TC#1 2.9L tall deck. Essy SVO head, Boport header, BW SX369 turbo, C4 trans, MS2xtra
88 TC#2 drag car project(someday)
88 TC#3 parts car (just needed the header panel...bought the whole car, lol)
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Ballman Offline
Senior Member
#5
I have one that is out of my low mile car , looks like new . Its OEM . let me know . best to e-mail . [email protected]
DW
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amar67 Offline
Junior Member
#6
I just installed a Spectra A556 (CU556) from Autozone a couple of months ago. No modifications needed at all. It slipped right in with no issues.

$85.99 - lifetime warranty.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/S...3456_4648_
1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 5 Speed Manual


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5.0TurboCoupe1988 Offline
Posting Freak
#7
is there a reason why you wouldn't want to use a newer, better designed high efficiency aluminum radiator?
1988 TC 2.3/5-Speed, 148K
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jtmbristol Offline
Member
#8
Of course I would rather have a better radiator than a 25 yr old one....just had read many horror stories of fitment/modification problems.

Thanks for all the replys and info !
88 'Bird, 5spd, .63 T-3, ported E6, 3" into dual 2 1/2 exhaust, 1.89/1.59 valves with Boport 1.5 cam, Ram Powergrip clutch, stock IC.
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#9
I put Summitt brand Mustang 2 core (1" cores) Aluminum rads in both my Tbirds. Bracket modding took all of half an hour per car.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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jtmbristol Offline
Member
#10
Got the CU556 from O'Reilly's, even found a $15 off coupon online :-) Dropped right in, just had to make new thinner rubber for under the top brackets.

Thanks for all the help !
88 'Bird, 5spd, .63 T-3, ported E6, 3" into dual 2 1/2 exhaust, 1.89/1.59 valves with Boport 1.5 cam, Ram Powergrip clutch, stock IC.
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