Topic: Radiator Question??? PICS INCLUDED!!! UPDATED 27 MAR

[SACD_Runner]

flex-a-lite has awesome radiators that bolt right up with electric fan packages as well. triple row, aluminum LC engineering has 3 row copper radiators. both are NOT cheap. expect to pay 3-4 bills. but its worth it. stock radiators suck.

Why do stockers suck..? Everyone I've talked to say flex-a-lights suck. With an electric fan, your not gaining enough power (from less rotating weight) to justify the price, ussually less then 1hp gain. With 3-400$ i can think of many other things that can add more power and keep your rig running like a top. But everyone has their own pinion.

[weirdtimes_7 [OP]]

I think for now i am just going to go for the stock radiator.... it's holding up now, so i am not going to screw anything up..

military_stang

[SACD_Runner]

I think for now i am just going to go for the stock radiator.... it's holding up now, so i am not going to screw anything up..

military_stang

I would have to say thats a good choice. check prices though. Most of the time a stock "performance" rad is cheaper then an oem dealer one.

[weirdtimes_7 [OP]]

Really, hmm.... i am going to start looking around. But it will prolly be a while before i get one because i need to figure out if my alternator is good.. Thank you for all the awesome help...

military_stang

[46&2]

My old radiator had a few spots like that and i let em be for a while. but with time it started to leak and get coolant all over the place so i just bought a stock replacement. IMO i dont think a trick radiator is really necessary, but if you have got the money to burn why not. the flexalite packages seem pretty cool, i thought about getting one but i was strapped for cash so i just upgraded my 22re stocker to a turbo radiator which was 3 cores instead of 2. helped out a lot though and its nice not having to dump water in your rad every day to make it to work and back

[TRHS1980]

With a stock truck there is no reason to spend the extra dime on an aftermarket radiator... How often to you hear of a toyota pickup overheating when the truck is in proper working order? Never. It's not a freaking V8 guys... it's a 100 horsepower 4 banger. I've got some work done in my fresh motor with original 27 year old radiator... That truck gets raped on a fairly regular basis and the temp gauge never moves. Another vote for getting stock replacement. 

[BLACKDOG]

With a stock truck there is no reason to spend the extra dime on an aftermarket radiator... How often to you hear of a toyota pickup overheating when the truck is in proper working order? Never. It's not a freaking V8 guys... it's a 100 horsepower 4 banger. I've got some work done in my fresh motor with original 27 year old radiator... That truck gets raped on a fairly regular basis and the temp gauge never moves. Another vote for getting stock replacement. 

'cept its a 150(?)  hp v6 

Add another vote for a stocker   I would also say to check around for a used on in good shape.  They do just fine to cool off the truck   Just don't skimp on the thermostat though, make sure you test it before putting it in there, and get a toyota one!

[jimbo74]

i had an oem toyota thermostat go bad within 6 months..... i then got the dual stage toyota thermostat and havent had a problem since....

im sure more cooling capactiy, and more cores can never hurt, and i plan on running the stock v6 i beleive it is eventually on my 22r....


EDIT: jsut htought of something, my truck was in proepr working order, and it gets abused daily by me..... however, i went wheeling... mudding, and with 3.07 gears with 31s, (2wd truck) i needed to use momentum with wheelspin in order to play in the mud.... this got the truck hot, in a short amount of time.... to the point i got out of the mud, and let the truck sit for half an hour

[TRHS1980]

'cept its a 150(?)  hp v6 

Add another vote for a stocker   I would also say to check around for a used on in good shape.  They do just fine to cool off the truck   Just don't skimp on the thermostat though, make sure you test it before putting it in there, and get a toyota one!

My bad... point still stands though, because for the extra 50hp you get an extra row. 

[papa mike]

Oh no, it's not having any cooling problems, it's not leaking either. I just didn't know if this was a sign that it was going to start acting up or start leaking. I can always put stop leak in it if it does start leaking....

military_stang

dont ever use stop leak  ,,just get it checked out  ..stop leak is for emergerncy use  and even  then i think i would  walk    lol

[Fearofrunner]

I'm sorry but i have to disagree with you guys about not getting the three row, and buying a used radiator is just dumb IMO, radiators are fairly cheep and not a complicated piece to manufacture.  What's it going to hurt putting a slightly bigger radiator in the truck, if anything it will last longer being that there is more rows of cooling core and as it gets older and builds up corrosion inside it's going to take it longer to plug up. I met military stang today and he looked at the three row that is installed in the same year toyota he's got.  really it's up to him but if anything i say stay away from used or remanufactured radiators. I had a rebuilt factory toyota radiator in my runner and it lasted for about 4 years but then started getting pin holes and leaking every where, so again if you don't want to spend the extra money on a three row than just get the two row and forget about it it will last as long as your going to own the truck

[weirdtimes_7 [OP]]

Ill be doing some more research. When i meet fearofrunner, his three row looked good... i guess it all comes down to money and research. Plus i got time, my radiator isn't doing to bad right now..

military_stang

[TRHS1980]

I'm sorry but i have to disagree with you guys about not getting the three row

I may be a bit confused about what you are saying so take this with a grain of salt, but... he already has a three row since his truck is a V6... We're telling him to get a replacement instead of going for some aftermarket aluminum deal that cost an arm and a leg. I don't see where the disagreement is ?

[weirdtimes_7 [OP]]

I was looking through all my old recipets that the previous own kept, well when toyota did the engine rebuild, they also repaired the radiator, i think thats where those fills came from...

military_stang

[Jeffe 81]

Be carefull with NAPA radiators...at just over a year the radiator mounts broke off!

[weirdtimes_7 [OP]]

I will prolly be waiting for a while, but i will be getting one.... i'm not going to wait for it to blow up on me and ruin my motor...

military_stang