C-Town, I woundn't just go out and buy a new radiator, unless you have money just burning a hole in your pocket... I would find a shop that just does radiator repairs. I use a guy that only does radiators and A/C. The dad does radiators and his son does A/C. When I asked him about the radiator he showed me a cut open radiator and explained how they work. He said that high performance radiators are aluminium cores with aluminium end caps. When he sells one to a hot rodder they are after cooling capacity for their high perfomance engines. He then explained that our diesels already have gallons of cooling capacity (7 gallons compaired to the 2-3 in gas engines) and we already have aluminium core radiators. He said the plastic end caps are the weak points in the system but, because of the volume space in the degas bottle this should never be an issue unless you are king of the 750rwhp club.
This guy is great, he went on to explain that the inside of the radiator is just like the 6.0 oil cooler it has passageways that the coolant runs thru to disapate heat and over time they get gummed up. He said most common thing is guys adding coolant that isn't compatable even though the bottle says, "works with all types". It interacts and makes this stuff that looks like sticky hair gel (he had a radiator opened up for repair). Rodding out the radiator is just what it sounds like, they take the end caps off and push a steel rod thru that pushes the big stuff out then they put it in a bash and boil everything else out.
My dad has been using this guys shop for years for his hot rods and I think the guy is more than fair. He said, look I can sell you a $1200 radiator for your truck but, you really don't need it because I can make your radiator brand new again for 150 bucks... Needless to say I was cool with $150.

 

I agree. I don't plan on just buying a new radiator. I was just looking at the worst case. I am familiar with rodding radiators. I grew up on a farm and there used to be a really good radiator shop that we took our tractor radiators to. They are no longer around. I was told that I would be hard pressed to find anyone to rod out my radiator. They said no one is going to want to fool with the plastic tanks. I hope I can find someone. Ford want $335 for a new one. My mechanic friend is going to help me check for dead spots with his IR thermometer this weekend. I'll have to go from there. I will keep you posted.

 

$335 actually isn't bad at all, I figured it would be way more than that. Good info C-tane.

 

A & L Radiator in springfield, Va. Give them a call

 

Is this a personal recommendation?