TECH
PROJECT OBSESSED
COOL DOWN AND STOP IT
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JACOB WHITE
Mishimoto’s cooling package for the 7.3L Power Stroke will really help keep coolant temperatures in check under heavy towing situations. The allaluminum radiator, new thermostat and stronger silicone hoses offer great longevity with a lifetime warranty as well.
We’ve rounded third and are headed for home on Project OBSessed. It’s been a year in the making but this 1996 F350 has been transformed into quite the nostalgic diesel hot rod. Stump pulling torque, all-new suspension and a host of chassis upgrades to keep it driving nicely. We turned your run of the mill 200,000 mile Ford Power Stroke into quite the head turner.
We tried not to stray from the original 90’s OBS Ford look but changed virtually everything you don’t see in order to hang with the newer diesel trucks normally seen passing an old rig like this. As the project comes to an end, we still have a couple things left to really dial in towing capabilities, both of which result in better cooling under load.
Since this truck was built to tow in the summer, obviously keeping engine coolant temperatures under control is key. While the factory radiators worked okay at stock power levels, at the new 400hp towing tune, there was some room for improvement. The Mishimoto all-aluminum radiator offers many advantages over the stock piece, the main ones being cooling efficiency and longevity. The Mishimoto unit is a direct fit piece for the 1994-1997 7.3L applications and uses a 2.28” thick, two-row, aluminum brazed core to better dissipate heat and maintain optimum fluid temperature within your cooling system. The slightly larger core also increases fluid capacity which again helps keep temperatures more consistent under load. When paired with one of Mishimoto’s new thermostats and their silicone boot kits, it makes for a great upgrade over stock. The new core design with welded metal end-tanks offers better durability over the factory radiators plastic end tanks, as you’re much less likely for a sealed joint to fail and leak. It’s also worth noting that Mishimoto offers a lifetime warranty on all their products.