HDJ81 Radiator Question and Auxillary Trans Cooler (1 Viewer)

[verseddreams]

I'll be replacing my radiator this month and I've been looking through several threads about what radiators to use as a replacement for the '96 HDJ81. There seems to be conflicting answers on almost every thread I look at. Some say to get the 3FE radiator or other ones that drop in but are only manual transmission and then run your own trans cooler that bypasses it. Others suggest different radiators that fit with a little bit of help from custom brackets etc.

My question is this: what radiator drops in with little to no modifications into a 1996 HDJ81 with a 1HDFT that still maintains the OEM trans oil heat exchange inside the radiator? The current radiator in the cruiser is part number 16400-17060, but they are discontinued, and I can't find any for sale anywhere or I would get this.

Two other options that I looked at that retain the trans oil heat exchange (I believe so) are:

JR2222J Radiator suitable for 80 Series 1HZ 1HD-T 1HD-FT Automatic Transmission - HD Automotive

JR2222J Radiator suitable for 80 Series 1HZ 1HD-T 1HD-FT Automatic Transmission

hdautomotive.com.au

and

Toyota 16400-17031 (1640017031) RADIATOR ASSY

Toyota 16400-17031 (1640017031) RADIATOR ASSY. New & genuine Japanese car parts. Fast shipping. Low prices. Request a quote from Amayama Trading Co. online.

www.amayama.com

Are these pretty much direct fits?

Lastly, I've read that the A442F is prone to overheating, and many people supplement their cooling with an auxiliary cooler.
How necessary is this if never towing a trailer? Most that would be towed is a small boat rarely. Along with this, this vehicle will see several long-haul trips where we drive for several hours, and there will be times when it is on steep climbs when we head out to the mountains.

For the trans cooler, I've been looking at the Derale fan coolers so that I can mount in inside the frame, leaving in front of the radiator open for an intercooler down the line.
At the same time of servicing and changing all of these things, I will also be getting a new thermostat, fan clutch, and coolant + trans temp gauge.

Just wanted to hear everyone's opinions about those two radiators or if they have a link to the 16400-17060, and what everyone thought about the trans cooler.

 

[OGBeno]

-17060 is discontinued.

-17031 is still available out of Japan. Not available in US.

-17040 doesn’t have an integrated cooler but you can install an after market unit. This radiator is available in the US from any Toyota dealer.

3F-E rads have been discontinued from Toyota for well over 10 years.

 

[verseddreams]

-17060 is discontinued.

-17031 is still available out of Japan. Not available in US.

-17040 doesn’t have an integrated cooler but you can install an after market unit. This radiator is available in the US from any Toyota dealer.

3F-E rads have been discontinued from Toyota for well over 10 years.

And the 17031 mounts up correctly? Do you think an auxiliary trans cooler in addition to the integrated cooler is needed?

Thank you for the response!

 

[OGBeno]

And the 17031 mounts up correctly? Do you think an auxiliary trans cooler in addition to the integrated cooler is needed?

Thank you for the response!

Yes it does.

And an aux cooler is important as well. Many markets have those setup from Toyota. So you could set it up factory utilizing a factory trans radiator.

 

[miatafreak]

I ran the -17040 in my 94 1HD-T with no cooler and with a Derale "Econo-Cool" 6 pass cooler w/fan and wasn't happy with thermal performance so I swapped over to an aftermarket version of a factory 1991 3FE radiator w/ trans cooler from Autozone as well as a the biggest no name chinese trans cooler I could fit in the front end with the fan pulled of the Derale.

With the -17040 and the Derale I would frequently see trans temps of 100C+ both in slight inclines at medium speeds, mountain passes at freeway speeds, and a ton of heat soaking in parking lots or stop and go traffic. The 3FE radiator with the big trans cooler is certainly better, now the only 100C+ spikes I see are at the end of long runs in mountain passes or occasional parking lots/stop and go traffic. I didn't have the trans temp sensor set up before replacing the original factory radiator but I would be interested to see numbers form anyone with a factory setup.

I have a hunch that the trans is fine with hitting those 100C peaks occasionally and people with factory or setups without the coolant to trans fluid cooler in OEM radiators are fine but since I have no data I get to be nervous all the time.

 

[verseddreams]

I ran the -17040 in my 94 1HD-T with no cooler and with a Derale "Econo-Cool" 6 pass cooler w/fan and wasn't happy with thermal performance so I swapped over to an aftermarket version of a factory 1991 3FE radiator w/ trans cooler from Autozone as well as a the biggest no name chinese trans cooler I could fit in the front end with the fan pulled of the Derale.

With the -17040 and the Derale I would frequently see trans temps of 100C+ both in slight inclines at medium speeds, mountain passes at freeway speeds, and a ton of heat soaking in parking lots or stop and go traffic. The 3FE radiator with the big trans cooler is certainly better, now the only 100C+ spikes I see are at the end of long runs in mountain passes or occasional parking lots/stop and go traffic. I didn't have the trans temp sensor set up before replacing the original factory radiator but I would be interested to see numbers form anyone with a factory setup.

I have a hunch that the trans is fine with hitting those 100C peaks occasionally and people with factory or setups without the coolant to trans fluid cooler in OEM radiators are fine but since I have no data I get to be nervous all the time.

Thanks for the reply! Was the second trans cooler you ran one of the paper clip style ones or was it a fan one?

Im thinking along with the integrated radiator cooler I won’t run into any issues with the fan powered cooler or a paper clip style cooler since I’m not towing anything. It just comes down to placement since a PDI intercooler is in the plans for the future and a front mounted intercooler would likely be in the way?

 

[miatafreak]

Thanks for the reply! Was the second trans cooler you ran one of the paper clip style ones or was it a fan one?

Im thinking along with the integrated radiator cooler I won’t run into any issues with the fan powered cooler or a paper clip style cooler since I’m not towing anything. It just comes down to placement since a PDI intercooler is in the plans for the future and a front mounted intercooler would likely be in the way?

It's a plate cooler with a fan on it. I think the PDI intercoolers can also come with a plate trans cooler so that might be a good path.

 

[duece71]

I installed a wholesale automatics universal cooler when I got the “17031” from impex. The WA set up is 2 plates and you can run them together like a sandwich or split them to have a side by side set up.