Best replacement radiator for the money today... (2 Viewers)

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abuck99 said:
So many recent reports of failing Denso radiators has me considering other options. With the internal leaks, and tank splits it's not worth the risk to install one until the reports of these early failures subside. I asked a parts counter seller ( national chain) if he had seen any Denso radiator issues; he smirked and nodded his head- yes. Are the failures a manufacturing problem: lack of a QC step like pressure testing, or poor vendor process, or a packaging problem where the radiator is damaged/compromised in shipping from being handled multiple times from import to break bulk, to distribution to multiple carrier hubs before its eventually tossed on the steps at my house. Who knows for sure. One thing I know, I will not mail order a radiator again unless I know its in bombproof packaging. Too many chances for handling damage between warehouse and my front door. I want to be able to pull it from the box at the parts store inspect and accept or decline.

Being a research nerd, I went back and researched specs and many web posts on several brands & options including OEM. I centered in on the Spectra product because of the price point, 2 year warranty and good initial reports here in the forum on Spectra fitment and reliability. There are two radiator options from Spectra for the 100 series: CU2282 (98-2002), and CU2755 (03-07). Catalog info states CU2755 is a 1 row radiator, vs the CU2282 which is stated as a 2 row radiator. Spec's indicate thickness of the CU2275 is 2.0625" wide and the CU2282 is 1.75". Maybe a misprint? My thought was thicker radiator=more rows so I called tech support to ask. Helpful folks at Spectra, but he admitted that it seems to possibly be a catalog error and couldnt confirm. FWIW I asked the manufacture origin of the 2282, its made by several vendors from 5 different countries, the 2275 one: Indonesia. If there was any room for production quality variance the 2282 would see it first, but the fact that there are few reported issues is a good indicator of overall QC. Another interesting data point is the trans cooler in the 2275 is concentric (long tube type heat exchanger), vs the stacked plate style heat exchanger found in the Denso and according to the specs I saw on rock auto's product description the 2282 is also plate style (9 plates).

None of the national parts chain stores listed on Spectra website actually had inventory, all fulfillment seems is through Spectra's warehouse and DS to the store or customer. FWIW anyone shopping for one, PEP Boys had the best deal on in store pick up on the CU2275: $170.25 after a 25% instant discount ($229 msrp). Thats as cheap as Rock Auto, and in my case the paying local tax for in-store pick up was less than the rock auto mail order shipping charges. Just have to wait a week for it to arrive to the store. Plan ahead.

OEM: Its always my preference, but the price is prohibitive. There are two options for OEM radiators depending on model year.
Part MSRP
Radiator OEM 03-07 16400-50290 $601.80
Radiator OEM 98-02, 05-07 16400-50360 $456.39 (Mexico spec for 05-07)

Weird that 03 & 04 are excluded from -50360, why?? I called my parts guy at Toyota and he asked for my VIN to determine which radiator to choose for my 05, and of course it came up with the -50290 more expensive model. He couldn't tell me the differences only that it had to do with North American spec vs Mexico spec., EPA something or other. What could possibly be different in the more expensive option that would be an EPA mandate wouldn't supersede to the earlier years? I know the earlier models had an electric fan, so maybe that accounts for some minor difference in mounting brackets? Anyway even the discounted price of an OEM radiator is more than 2.5x price of aftermarket so in this case I will roll the dice with Spectra and see how it goes. It would be great to know what the differences are between the two OEM options: tank design, configuration/construction 2row, 3row? , measurements, TOC differences if any etc.
Click to expand...

So did you order the Spectra CU2275?
 
Last edited:
@abuck99 Good info... I suspect all the different OE radiators are interchangeable, fitment-wise. But the '03 OE radiator would be an upgrade for '98-'02 owners. The Densos only have one part number for all years (3mm fin pitch). The '98-'02 OE radiators have a fin pitch of 3.5mm and in '03 went to 3mm. As you said, '03 was also the year they removed the condenser fan. But this fan does not mount to nor even touch the radiator.

abuck99 said:
Weird that 03 & 04 are excluded from -50360, why??
Click to expand...
The '03-'04 Mexican spec 100 is not excluded from -50360 but comes up with a different part number (-50211) that is superseded by -50360. So, all '98-'07 Mexican spec 100's use the same replacement radiator. I suspect the '03-'07 Mexican 100's still have the condenser fan. There are a couple Mexican 100's on here that might be able to check.
 
With so many returns, find it amazing packaging is not improving. My 2nd time around Denso is in and appears in good order so far...what a pita though going through install twice..
 
Not liking the fit of the CU2755. The fan shroud isn't happy and doesn't sit well with the spectra.
 
camino70 said:
Not liking the fit of the CU2755. The fan shroud isn't happy and doesn't sit well with the spectra.
Click to expand...

Thats not good- pics?

Where did you get yours from? Online?
 
Last edited:
camino70 said:
Pics coming.

Got it from Amazon, linked above for $90.
Click to expand...
Is the picture in Amazon, not the actual one they shipped you?

I bought a cheap radiator a few years (pages) back, what A POS PITA. I can't say if it leak or not as I've never seen the rig again. But fit was off. First had misaligned welding of mount blocking bolt hole, shroud lower hangers in wrong spot, transmission coolant line nipes in different spot and loose also OEM foam no longer closed the gap to radiator support.

I've just saw a rig with replacement rad, reservoir didn't bolt up correctly.

I know some here have reported these aftermarkets bolting up PnP, but perhaps they vary throughout the years, because I'm not seeing it.:bang:

I need to order one very soon, and I've know idea on which one at this point........... HELP!
 
camino70 said:
Not liking the fit of the CU2755. The fan shroud isn't happy and doesn't sit well with the spectra.
Click to expand...

If there are tabs at the bottom of your radiator shroud make sure they are properly aligned. The Spectra radiator I put in my '99 (different than yours, CU2282) was perfect fit in every way.
 
flintknapper said:
If there are tabs at the bottom of your radiator shroud make sure they are properly aligned. The Spectra radiator I put in my '99 (different than yours, CU2282) was perfect fit in every way.
Click to expand...
Did the OEM foam seal close the gap between radiator and radiator support?

The 2282 I used was POS PITA, but I've know idea of who made it. I just went back and looked at original order, it didn't indicate manufacturer.
 
I bought the denso for my '98 and had no problems with it. I wasn't happy with the damaged denso box when I bought for our '04 and returned it. I saw the conversation about the Spectra cu2755, saw it for $90 on Amazon prime (now $190) and bought it. https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Prem...1521675838&sr=8-1&keywords=CU2755&tag=ihco-20

The pics in Amazon appear to be the actual unit.

Spectra cu2755

Spectra cu2755

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added

The outlet is in the correct left/right location, but too high. The fan shroud mounting location on the driver's side is right, but the passenger side mount should be apart of the outlet and it's to the right. I didn't want to trim the shroud to fit around the outlet and figure out the mounting, so I went back to the denso.

So far I've received three denso units for two trucks and the boxes were not in great shape. The Spectra didn't seem packed as well, but there was no damage to the shipping box.

I am in Alpharetta and willing to meet you if you want to see the Spectra before it gets shipped back.

I've reused the original side supports, so no need to cut/move foam, I just cut/reglue the top foam. All seems good with the two denso units. Fingers crossed they don't fail.
 
camino70 said:
I bought the denso for my '98 and had no problems with it. I wasn't happy with the damaged denso box when I bought for our '04 and returned it. I saw the conversation about the Spectra cu2755, saw it for $90 on Amazon prime (now $190) and bought it. https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Prem...1521675838&sr=8-1&keywords=CU2755&tag=ihco-20

The pics in Amazon appear to be the actual unit.

Spectra cu2755

Spectra cu2755

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added

The outlet is in the correct left/right location, but too high. The fan shroud mounting location on the driver's side is right, but the passenger side mount should be apart of the outlet and it's to the right. I didn't want to trim the shroud to fit around the outlet and figure out the mounting, so I went back to the denso.

So far I've received three denso units for two trucks and the boxes were not in great shape. The Spectra didn't seem packed as well, but there was no damage to the shipping box.

I am in Alpharetta and willing to meet you if you want to see the Spectra before it gets shipped back.

I've reused the original side supports, so no need to cut/move foam, I just cut/reglue the top foam. All seems good with the two denso units. Fingers crossed they don't fail.
Click to expand...
Looks like the 2282 I had, most everything is not in the same position as OEM.
 
camino70 said:
I bought the denso for my '98 and had no problems with it. I wasn't happy with the damaged denso box when I bought for our '04 and returned it. I saw the conversation about the Spectra cu2755, saw it for $90 on Amazon prime (now $190) and bought it. https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Prem...1521675838&sr=8-1&keywords=CU2755&tag=ihco-20

The pics in Amazon appear to be the actual unit.

Spectra cu2755

Spectra cu2755

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added

The outlet is in the correct left/right location, but too high. The fan shroud mounting location on the driver's side is right, but the passenger side mount should be apart of the outlet and it's to the right. I didn't want to trim the shroud to fit around the outlet and figure out the mounting, so I went back to the denso.

So far I've received three denso units for two trucks and the boxes were not in great shape. The Spectra didn't seem packed as well, but there was no damage to the shipping box.

I am in Alpharetta and willing to meet you if you want to see the Spectra before it gets shipped back.

I've reused the original side supports, so no need to cut/move foam, I just cut/reglue the top foam. All seems good with the two denso units. Fingers crossed they don't fail.
Click to expand...

I picked up the (edit) CU2755 Thursday- didnt plan to install it until next weekend. Sounds like Ill be retuning this one too if the shroud needs modifying to fit.
 
Last edited:
camino70 said:
Abuck99,
You're kidding me with part numbers :)

Denso from Taiwan I bought on Amazon late 2017:
Denso taiwan

Denso taiwan

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added

Denso from China I bought on Amazon March 2018, same Amazon listing:
Denso China

Denso China

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added
Click to expand...

Yeah sorry man- suffering from a number block.

Looks like Denso has made a vendor change.

Btw Where Alpha are you? My office is up there.
 
@camino70

Post up the amazon link where you got your denso when you get a chance.
 
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