fj40 radiator question

[yotafreak]

I have a 1977 fj40 landcruiser with the 2f engine in it. I have noticed a noise every now and then from the front of my engine. sometimes it makes noises and sometimes it don't. I wanna say it could be my water pump going down. im afraid to drive it much cause I don't wanna heat it up too much. on my way to work this morning (driving my other truck) I thought could that noise be the fan clutch tearing up? I know you have no idea cause you are not here to hear it. I am losing water too I noticed but can't tell if its the 3year old water pump I put in or if its the radiator which to my knowledge is factory. I just haven't taken the time to get underneath there and let it drip on me.
ok now to my question.
I would like your opinion on a 4 core radiator vs an aluminum radiator. im also thinking of going with an electric puller fan set up and doing away with my belt drive fan clutch set up. the information ive read said don't use an electric puller fan set up with a 4 core radiator. said the 4 core radiator was too restrictive. that's why im kinda leaning towards an aluminum radiator. I heard they cool better. the reason im thinking of an electric fan is to free up some power from the engine. again I wanna hear your thoughts.
thank you

 

[toyotaspeed90]

That's a hugely loaded question with hugely opinionated answers.....

For sake of cost savings, you could easily pull your current radiator and have it tested/flushed/repaired cheaper than your 'new' options. While it's out check or replace the water pump and water lines....

 

[Mace]

Stock radiator works great for a 2F. I'd recore it if it's bad. AL radiators are nice too, but unnecessary.

Keep the stock fan clutch and fan. You won't notice the power gain from an electric fan, and it won't cool as well.

 

[yotafreak]

thank you both for your replies. I should of mentioned that I have the 5speed tranny and transfer case in this rig. I have 36x12.50 tires and 4.88 gears. I was thinking if the motor did blow I might go chevy power. I see where specter off-road offer a 4 core radiator. any thoughts on their radiator?

 

[toyotaspeed90]

That's starting a whole new series of questions/concerns (possible chevy power in the future).

If your stock radiator was in good form and you decided to go Chevy - and wanted a different radiator (not always necessary), there's value in the stock radiator to someone else... and a couple hundred dollar radiator is a small amount in the conversion cost...

 

[John McVicker]

If you are set on buying something new as opposed to having your stock radiator looked at & repaired, you can't do any better than getting a new OEM from Toyota. As Mace said...don't go with an electric fan.

I bought new OEM from a Mud vendor/dealer about 2 years ago for about $400. May be more now, but no guess work and your problem is solved.

However this would NOT be your best option if you do go to a V/8. Figure out what you are going to do, and then build to that.

John

 

[lcwizard]

Firstly, if you're losing water there would be visual evidence unless perhaps it were a head gasket. The water pump would show at the weep hole under the pulley shaft. A radiator would certainly show green residue , assuming you use green anti freeze, wherever there were leaks.
Check your driver's side motor mount first. Put a jack under the pan , jack up the motor and see if the either side has gone out. Make sure to use something between the pan and jack to spread the load like a large square plate or board. It's common to lose the driver's side and difficult to tell
by looking at it. It's even more common once you go to a granny first gear. You can also just put it in low range, first gear, tap the throttle and watch your shifter. if the mount is gone the motor will torque clockwise and your fan will contact the shroud

 

[yotafreak]

If you are set on buying something new as opposed to having your stock radiator looked at & repaired, you can't do any better than getting a new OEM from Toyota. As Mace said...don't go with an electric fan.

I bought new OEM from a Mud vendor/dealer about 2 years ago for about $400. May be more now, but no guess work and your problem is solved.

However this would NOT be your best option if you do go to a V/8. Figure out what you are going to do, and then build to that.

John

thank you for your reply
do electric fans not cool as well? just curious.
im not sure if I will ever put in a v8 or not. just kinda be nice if I ever did the radiator I chose to put in would be ok.

 

[John McVicker]

With a 2f there is no advantage to an electric fan. It does not cool better AND it does not cool as well as the stock OEM with a proper fan and shroud.

I bought my '75 40 new, it had the original OEM radiator/fan until sometime in 2013-2014. For much of its life this was my daily driver. Hard to beat this kind of realiabity. No hit or miss...it just worked. It was tired at the end of its life...so I just bought a new one w/o repairing the original.

John

 

[shawnfj40]

The stock 77 fan, clutch, water pump and water pump work fantastic on a 2F. I agree with finding the leak and then going from there. Electric fans have one big drawback...they are electric. They may or may not work. A mechanical fan just usually works. If you wheel your rig, electrical fan have to be switched off to cross deep water or mud. Your mechanical fan does not. I would address cooling a v-8 once you have a v-8. For now you should be able to do anything you want with the 2f and a good functioning stock cooling system.

 

[yotafreak]

The stock 77 fan, clutch, water pump and water pump work fantastic on a 2F. I agree with finding the leak and then going from there. Electric fans have one big drawback...they are electric. They may or may not work. A mechanical fan just usually works. If you wheel your rig, electrical fan have to be switched off to cross deep water or mud. Your mechanical fan does not. I would address cooling a v-8 once you have a v-8. For now you should be able to do anything you want with the 2f and a good functioning stock cooling system.

thank you for your reply