so how does one tell if they got a 1 core or 2 core radiator. i got a 5.0l 4x4 and i am in a different state than the truck at the moment

 

1 core is usually 1" thick, 2 core is usually 2" think. im not sure but i think there might be a difference in core and row.

 

i was hoping there was some way to tell by the vin but no. every website said my truck takes the two core and every part store was like well we sell both which do you need (face palm) after some reading i bought the 2 core and i will mod the shroud as needed.
only three days left till i get back to the same state as my truck. hopefully the parts will be there in two days

 

Two should be fine. I put the double in with no hastle

 

They are rows, not cores, and anything with a decent sized engine has 2, 3, or 4 rows. One would suck, two is stock.

 

1 row was stock on my 95 4.9, my dads 94 4.9 and 93 5.0, they now all have 4 row.

 

1 row was stock on my 95 5.0 5spd.I used a 2 row for a auto trans and only problem was the bottom of the shroud.Picked up another one at a local junk yard and that was it.

 

If, you are lucky enough to have a radiator cap on the radiator, open it up and look inside, you might have to lower the fluid level enough to see the rows as Sean stated, now simply count from front to back or I guess counting from back to front, if that suits you better.

 

They really cheaped out on the newer trucks. My '87 has a 2 row stock and I didn't even have a/c.

 

from what i learned, at least for 94, f150s with a/c got the 2 row and the ones without got 1 row radiators. i have a one row in it now that i patched due to it leaking. i ordered the two row and i will be back in town tomorrow so it will get installed thursday.