Radiator: fix or repair?

[joshmd]

Good morning,

I am leaking a bit of coolant I have checked both upper and lower hoses, they are fine. I have had the pressure test done and believe it it is coming from the radiator. I think I have a few small holes, I can see 2-3 places on the bottom of the radiator where it pools up when I have stopped for awhile. It appears I can get a new one for between 250-300 and install it myself or get it repaired for about 200. I was looking to see if anyone had changed out a radiator before on a 1989 fj62 wanted to get some pointers if there are any. And some insight as to should I get a new one or repair. Also if I get a new one what brand? I am new to the cruiser family I bought my first cruiser 9 days ago.


Josh

 

[Michael Hanson]

I have never had a long life on a repaired radiator,nor felt like it cooled very well. Go new Toyota,aluminum if in a hot climate or aftermarket CSf radiator has worked for me. . 2 cents Mike

 

[sdbrassfield]

x2...Go new...

 

[wengejor]

x3 , get a new one...you'll have much more thermal capacity.

 

[tsototh]

Check out radiatorbarn.com. They have good prices and free shipping. Order the radiator for a 1988 Land Cruiser (the 1989 radiator on their website is for a 1991-1992 FJ80, trust me).

I just put mine in a month or so ago, it is nice. They are pretty easy to put in. You pull out your battery and tray, take off the fan shrowd, take off the upper radiator support (I guess that is what you'd call it - it is what the hood latch bolts to), ubolt the condensor (just the bolts, you don't have to unhook it), take off a couple of bolts behind the condensor, then ubolt the radiator at the bottom (there are some rubber isolators). Take the hoses off and the transmission cooling lines, and you are good to go.

If you don't have one already, get a nice transmission cooler and put it on at the same time.

 

[joshmd]

Thank you all for the help. I do have a tranny cooler already on. Question about the radiator is this the product number W0133-1748903? That is the CSF radiator and there is one on radiatorbarn, is there a difference they are about the same price. I have found some that say "Match OEM, Check Availability" any idea what that means? Just not sure which one to get I have never done this before, and want to get the right one for my cruiser.

Thanks

Josh

 

[Spike Strip]

Get the CSF brand. 4-core, all-brass, heavy-duty. It's what SOR, CCOT, and others sell as their aftermarket unit. They're very good rads.

Don't know the number, but you can look it up on csfimports.com

I looked it up: you want CSF 2708

 

[joshmd]

So I just found https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/201011-performance-radiator-vs-radiator-barn-help.html and now are more confused then ever. Who would have thought that a radiator would be this confusing? If there is anyone who has put a radiator in a 1989 fj62 please give me some incite.

Josh

 

[Spike Strip]

What's confusing ? Buy a CSF 2708 and put it in. You may have a seperate oil cooler that a PO put on, otherwise your tranny oil cooler is in the bottom tank of the Radiator.

Also see INCITE vs. INSIGHT.