Best aftermarket radiator for '96' FZJ80?

[rich121]

New to the forum, did a search, but couldn't find anything specific.
Just purchased last week, and noticed a slow leak in the top tank, would rather replace with the best aftermarket radiator (unless stock is best) since where I live gets very hot in summer.

Thanks,

Rick

 

[EricE]

I am no expert but I have heard it said stock is best and people have troubles with aftermarket ones. I replaced mine with stock. You will find that most toyota parts are better than aftermarket ones.

 

[Grench]

From what I've seen reading in the forums here...

The stock '94 radiator seems to get the highest praise and aparently fits a '96. Talk to Dan at American Toyota (see the link at the top) and he'll know the details of what you need.

 

[Aussie]

With a radiator always go OEM, fits right, hoses line up, and your guts feels better spending the extra $$$!

 

[Ruadhrigh]

If you've got the cash, the Ron Davis radiators are bling-bling-bling.....PM LandCruiserPhil about his....

 

[cary]

Don't forget to do the Fan Clutch and Thermostat while you are there. Also, the Raventai temp gauge mod is a must.

 

[peepers]

i have had good luck with Perfrormance Radiotors in the past. good luck. i think OEM is grossly overpriced in this case... (flame on)

 

[CJF]

(flame on)

Ok, if you insist!

(It's Jason, right?)

A couple 3FE listers have had Performance radiators fail in only one or two years. On the other hand, his (the thread starter's) OEM one lasted eleven years.

Curtis

 

[thekirk]

Same topic, different radiator...

What's the story on the one MAF sells? Seven hundred bucks, aluminum, doesn't seem to offer anything significant in terms of more cooling capacity, and I imagine it's a stone bitch to repair, being aluminum. Do people really put those in, and why do they do it? What the hell am I missing here?

 

[lt1fire]

I haven't heard of anyone using the maf one but I imagine it does cool better

 

[cruiserdan]

I think that the MAF unit is a Davis radiator but I could be incorrect.

 

[IB14A69]

i bought my radiator from moose radiator. it is a koyo brand and it is awesome identical to the factory one down to the bronze colored bolts.

 

[rich121]

i bought my radiator from moose radiator. it is a koyo brand and it is awesome identical to the factory one down to the bronze colored bolts.

From what I've read, Koyo might be the manufacturer for Toyota factory radiators...

Why are the copper radiators cheaper than the "racing" all aluminium radiators?

 

[RavenTai]

Why are the copper radiators cheaper than the "racing" all aluminium radiators?

because it costs more to make an aluminum radiator,


Aluminum has the advantage of cooling almost as well as a copper radiator but weighing much less. the weight difference is what makes it good for "racing" in this application the weight difference is no biggie, go for the cheaper copper radiator.

 

[RAYJON]

I hate to say this but bite the bullet and buy a 93-94 copper one from cdan. I have been down the aftermarket route and wish I hadn't .. The factory radiator is oversized and workes extremely well in all conditions. Just keep it clean and a good clutch fan in it. If you are going to work it really hard at slow speed put an aux electric fan on it as the factory clutch fan doesn't pull alot of air at idle..

 

[DethYota]

Just thought I'd add to this thread since I just replaced the radiator in my 94 a couple weeks ago. Mine was leaking along the seam where the plastic tank meets the cooling fins. Since I absolutely hate plastic radiators, I searched around a while until I found an all metal radiator. radiatorbarn.com had one for $220. Not only was it the least expensive one that I found, but it is also all metal! No stupid plastic to crack and it can easily be repaired if it does. It came with a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser and it was identical in size to the stock one. All of the fittings lined up perfectly. Two days after I installed the radiator, I towed a 6,000 pound trailer over 400 miles and had no problems.

 

[CJF]

I absolutely hate plastic radiators

Why?

Cuz they only last 13 years??

 

[bernie]

To my understanding, firstly the aluminum rad can be thinner than the copper rad and still maintain the same cooling efficency , therefor reducing weight. Secondly and in my experience the copper rad has issues with the expansion and contraction of the tanks causing the solder to crack and leak. If look around most modern vehicles are fitted with aluminum rads , also european cars have been using aluminum rads with plastic tanks since the 80's at least .
It's my view that if the cooling system is correctly maintained the ally rad should have a good life span.

 

[RavenTai]

To my understanding, firstly the aluminum rad can be thinner than the copper rad and still maintain the same cooling efficency , therefor reducing weight. Secondly and in my experience the copper rad has issues with the expansion and contraction of the tanks causing the solder to crack and leak. If look around most modern vehicles are fitted with aluminum rads , also european cars have been using aluminum rads with plastic tanks since the 80's at least .
It's my view that if the cooling system is correctly maintained the ally rad should have a good life span.

Everybody has switched to aluminum radiators for weight, Toyota did for the 1995 weight reduction of the Land Cruiser, but not because of thickness but because of the weight of the two materials,

Aluminum has a density of 2700kg per cubic meter
Copper has a density of 8920kg per cubic meter

aluminum has a third the mass of copper.

leaking at the solder joints is caused by corrosion.

http://www.ibrtses.com/electronics/cooling.html

 

[fzj80kidpen]

Just got one for my 87 cressida.
All metal, no plastic crap, fits perfect.
www.radiatorbarn.com - $141 to my door - delivered in 2 days