So I ordered this radiator http://www.ebay.com/itm/heavy-duty-...=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b72cc92b on June 3rd and it showed up today the 6th there is some good and some BS with this order. The BS is the add states the location is Melbourne Australia however it shipped from Shanghai China. That was kinda annoying and with shipping it was 405.98. But it did show up in 3 days and looks very well built, I haven't had a chance to install yet but I will let you know how it goes.
80 series All Aluminum radiator
- Thread starter kdxman
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I don't see any tranny cooler nipples. Are they there?
Kinda looks like they are on top.
I order a alum rad for my F250 from one of these China places. And it has been great. I think I paid like $300 or so. Its much beefier than the plastic/alum stocker.
I order a alum rad for my F250 from one of these China places. And it has been great. I think I paid like $300 or so. Its much beefier than the plastic/alum stocker.
Maybe they'll sell you the manual tranny to go with that radiator, as I'll bet that's what it's for? Hate to think what the freight will be on that one...
Good time to convert to the spiffy aftermarket trans cooler, I suppose.
Good time to convert to the spiffy aftermarket trans cooler, I suppose.
The OEM trans cooler is enough to cools the trans the radiator trans cooler is to bring the trans up to operating temps faster. The trans will not go into OD until operating temp is reached.
I guess the solution to that issue is to try a small trans cooler first, so how things go, try a hill with the trailer and see whether you can get the trans temp warning light to come on. The OP's truck is OBDII, so do the scan gauges have trans temp readouts? That would be a better way to verify getting it right.
Don't know what the possibilities of returning it are. The freight won't be cheap. And it looks like a well made unit, although obviously the proof is in the pudding. If it was me, I'd likely make it work, unless it's free shipping to return it.
Don't know what the possibilities of returning it are. The freight won't be cheap. And it looks like a well made unit, although obviously the proof is in the pudding. If it was me, I'd likely make it work, unless it's free shipping to return it.
not sure how that would work in parts of the country where it gets cold. I personally would ask them to swap it out or put in a claim on it.
Looking at the sales data you might have been the first auto to order one.
Looking at the sales data you might have been the first auto to order one.
^x2
I would want the quicker trans warmups with the trans connections to the rad (the trans "warmer"), as the rig came from the factory. Even here in San Diego.
OTH, the OP is apparently in Mesa AZ, so he will not normally see bitter winter cold while near home (e.g., Mesa has an average January minimum temp above freezing). As such, the trans "warmer" in the rad is likely less to critical to him most of the time.
I would want the quicker trans warmups with the trans connections to the rad (the trans "warmer"), as the rig came from the factory. Even here in San Diego.
OTH, the OP is apparently in Mesa AZ, so he will not normally see bitter winter cold while near home (e.g., Mesa has an average January minimum temp above freezing). As such, the trans "warmer" in the rad is likely less to critical to him most of the time.
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You definitely were not the first one. I bought this radiator about 8 months ago from a different seller (I can find the info if you really want). Yes, it is made in china and it isn't perfect, but the price was too good to pass up as it was much cheaper when I bought mine. I too was surprised and concerned when I found out there was no trans cooler. See this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-...um-radiator-missing-cooler-line-fittings.html. Decided to hook it up anyway. It is not a perfect fit, as mine was a little narrow, but I was able to jury-rig it in. Thats all the bad news. The good news is I haven't missed the trans cooler (live in SATX), and my coolant temps dropped about 30 degrees between the new radiator and fan clutch. I was at about 205-10 before and now run at 180. I do believe the wider aluminum cores and lack of connection to the hot AT fluid helped to bring down the temps. It remains to be seen if my tranny will blow up without the extra cooler but so far so good. Let me know if you have any other questions or if I can help in some way.
BTW, there has been much debate in the past on the radiator vs. air transmission cooler, and I can save you the trouble of reading all of the old 'Mud threads. The truth is nobody really knows the real purpose of the radiator cooler or the effect of its loss in our vehicles (nobody has recorded temps to my knowledge or searching). The most common theory is that the "cooler" in the radiator actually helps to warmup trans temps faster in cold environments, as most of the wear/tear occurs at less than operating temps and was again mentioned above by Phil. I do wonder if an upgrade to synthetic trans fluid (or even the current upgraded DIII stuff) is more advanced now compared to 1996 to make the radiator trans cooler a moot point. Of course I am not an expert and other opinions and discussion is always welcome by me. So far though this radiator has been working well for me.
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- #14
glad to hear it dropped your temp down I would like to drop a few degrees in the AZ summer. I am planing on swapping out the transmission fluid with amsoil synthetic when I install the new radiator
When you do need the quicker warmups, you could rig some sort of winter front on the tranny cooler I suppose.
- Thread starter
- #16
OK so I finally got around to installing the new radiator, so far so good the bolt holes all lined up every thing fit just like the OEM. The only thing that I had to modify was one of the mounting holes for the fan shroud, it was to small and I had to drill it out, pulse the bolt holes were too small so I had to use different bolts. I haven't had a chance to start it yet as I'm in the middle of a bunch of maintenance
kdxman,
Ever get this little number fired up? Just wondering, as I think I may be in the market for a new radiator. Sounds like it's close enough for me to deal with.
Curious also about how you dealt with the tranny cooler?
Ever get this little number fired up? Just wondering, as I think I may be in the market for a new radiator. Sounds like it's close enough for me to deal with.
Curious also about how you dealt with the tranny cooler?
I personally have learned that Masonite board spraypainted all over held in over a 1/3 of a cooler does great. Like how on 18 wheelers they have those "X" zippered vinyl covers. I drill little holes & ziptie it. If anybody else has a rig that is coldblooded in winter.
I want an aluminum radiator with the tranny heater, but don't want to spend 900$!
no you don't. you want the oem brass rad from the 93 and 94s.
i just got one a few weeks ago for 390 shipped and that was the rad a and a couple hoses.
i just got one a few weeks ago for 390 shipped and that was the rad a and a couple hoses.