Serious question, is it worth spending extra on a direct-fit radiator over a universal one?

I put a universal in a 2002 F-150 last month because it was $80 cheaper, but after three hours of fabricating brackets and trimming hoses I'm wondering if that direct-fit at $220 would have saved me more time than money, what's your experience been?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabetht5627d ago

Oh man, my friend spent a whole weekend fighting a universal and finally just paid a shop to install the direct-fit.

mason_ward27d ago

2002 F-150 owner here... so @elizabetht56's friend's story hits close to home. Did you ever add up the cost of your time with the universal, like hourly, to see if it really saved you cash? I bet with the brackets and trial-and-error hose trimming I did, I probably came out about even in the end.