83' 3B possibly cracked head?

[DieselCruiser81]

Did it seem to cool better than the factory radiator?

 

[dare]

With an aluminum radiator, for a given thickness the less cores it has the better it will cool. Less cores = less gaps = more fin contact = better heat transfer. Aluminum can have much longer tubes (cores) than copper/brass radiators so the conventional wisdom of more cores = better doesn't apply. You'l note that the PWR and Terrain Tamer Aluminum rads for landcruisers are 2 core.

I had a cheap ebay 52mm 2 core alloy radiator in my BJ73 and even thrashing in the dunes on a hot day it never got above thermostat temperature. The same can't be said about the 2 copper/brass 4 core 66mm radiators I've had.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

Did it seem to cool better than the factory radiator?

this is the one I have (scroll down for the 4 core)

I made my own shroud to use with a 70 series stock fan.

It seems to cool much better than the 4 core copper-brass unit that was in there. But it's not a fair comparison really. I switched the radiator at the same time I switched the engine from the H to the 3B.

I'll be driving it about 90 miles round trip today in the hills of western Maine where the temps will be in the low to mid 80s F. Thus far, even with the intercooler in front of the radiator the coolant temp is constantly cycling right around the thermostat opening temp. I can watch it on the mechanical water temp gauge. The coolant coming from the rad is always cold enough to close the thermostat. It's always cycling from 185F to 198F. (193 degree t-stat and mech gauge bulb is in the head near the power steering bracket, not in the t-stat housing.)

I can snap some photos if you're curious.

 

[DieselCruiser81]

That would be great Rufus thanks. So you have an intercooler in front of you radiator? Did that give you better performance?

 

[RufusTheDufus]

I installed the intercooler more for reliability/longevity than performance. It cools the compressed air coming from the turbo. Yes, an intercooler can provide better performance but that wasn't my goal with it. I wanted lower EGTs.

A couple of photos for you. They aren't great but give you an idea.

 

[DieselCruiser81]

I received my Champion 4 core aluminum radiator yesterday and installed it this morning. My cruiser is running great now, my temp is not even getting over the halfway mark at 70+ MPH. Thanks for all of the help, this has been a problem that has been plaguing my rig for years. So after putting a new head, new head gasket and upgrading the radiator my 3b is finally running correctly. I might just have to crack open a cold one or several and celebrate.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

I received my Champion 4 core aluminum radiator yesterday and installed it this morning. My cruiser is running great now, my temp is not even getting over the halfway mark at 70+ MPH. Thanks for all of the help, this has been a problem that has been plaguing my rig for years. So after putting a new head, new head gasket and upgrading the radiator my 3b is finally running correctly. I might just have to crack open a cold one or several and celebrate.

Did you have them swap the inlet and outlet sides? I just ordering one yesterday from Champion. Hoping it solves my issues like it did you.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

I received my Champion 4 core aluminum radiator yesterday and installed it this morning. My cruiser is running great now, my temp is not even getting over the halfway mark at 70+ MPH. Thanks for all of the help, this has been a problem that has been plaguing my rig for years. So after putting a new head, new head gasket and upgrading the radiator my 3b is finally running correctly. I might just have to crack open a cold one or several and celebrate.

Don't use the 16 lb radiator cap that came with the radiator! You could pop a freeze plug. I did.

 

[DieselCruiser81]

What lb cap should I use?

 

[DieselCruiser81]

Cimarron,

Yes, I had them swap the inlet and outlet and it fit well. I just had to notch out the factory shroud around the lower hose connection but I am very pleased that mine is cooling now.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

Cimarron,

Yes, I had them swap the inlet and outlet and it fit well. I just had to notch out the factory shroud around the lower hose connection but I am very pleased that mine is cooling now.

That's good news.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

I didn't know they would swap the inlet/outlet. That's great to know.

I think the stock Toyota cap is 13 lbs. Use it. I had the freeze plug blow out of the back of my cylinder head due to that 16 lb cap.

 

[DieselCruiser81]

Thats good to know Rufus, I will swap it out tomorrow.

 

[DieselCruiser81]

 

[DieselCruiser81]

 

[DieselCruiser81]

View attachment 1483041

View attachment 1483042

 

[DieselCruiser81]

 

[DieselCruiser81]

 

[DieselCruiser81]

A few pics of the cruiser I have been working on.