Replacing radiator and a few other "while I am in there" projects

[profro]

After noticing dried coolant around the top crimp of the radiator and the needle moving towards the H (but never boiling over), I am going to swap the radiator and do a few other projects while I have the radiator out. My PS pump hose are leaking pretty badly and I have minor oil leaks as most all 1997 80s do I reckon. I have elected to do the crank seal and the oil pump cover oil ring. I have watched Texasknowhow's oil leak fixed video several times and have a FSM.

First, Toyota flushed and refilled my system with Toyota Red last year, should I leave the block and just refill what I lose when I drop the rad and replace the thermostat or should I flush the block and refill with all new?

Second, should I remove the harmonic balancer before or after i get the radiator out or does it matter?

 

[Tennessee80]

It has been a while, but back in 2007 me and my Russian cruiser buddy Alex replaced my radiator on my '94. I don't remember removing the harmonic balancer, but you do have to remove the fan. Flushing the entire system sounds like a good idea, but I believe all we did was drain old radiator, swap in new one, fill new radiator, which is probably the wrong way to do it... HTH, I need to fix my leak on my PS pump hose on my '96 as well....

Good luck,

Joel

 

[10ga]

I'm assuming you're removing the harmonic balancer because you're replacing the front main? If so, we did mine after the radiator was out. I got a long breaker bar and tied to the bottom of the frame and bumped the engine until it broke loose. I thought it was going to break the motor mounts there a couple times but it broke the bolt loose. You probably already know this but make sure to unplug your distributor wire before bumping the starter. The only advice I have on the oil pump O ring is making sure you have a good set of phillips head drivers so you won't strip the screws on the cover. I cleaned the screw heads out real good with brake cleaner, used a pick to clean, and then tapped them in good with a hammer. All the bolts came right our with no problem.

 

[profro]

I'm assuming you're removing the harmonic balancer because you're replacing the front main? ....... The only advice I have on the oil pump O ring is making sure you have a good set of phillips head drivers so you won't strip the screws on the cover.

Yes on the front main seal.

I ordered JIS bits as the screws are JIS #3s and not Phillips. We will see how that goes.

 

[10ga]

That's right, don't know what I was thinking Phillips head. It was pretty easy with the radiator out to do the O rings and the front main. I just ordered a new fuel filter last week so we get to do that this week. Looks like a hard to get to spot but we did the PHH so I know we can get the fuel filter. I have a lot of projects going on for the next couple weeks. New OME lift should be here by Friday, so that will be fun. Also doing the CDL, new 315 tires (when I decide on which ones ), and finally putting the TRD wheels on as soon as my spacers get here and the lift on. It's amazing how fast money goes when you start ordering parts but it sure is fun I need to figure out why my gas mileage is so bad also, I'm getting 9 MPG on every tank for in town driving. I'm sure I will loose a couple of those with the lift and tires go on so I need to figure it out. I think I may have one or more fuel injectors leaking because it's a little hard to start sometimes too. We did a full tune up but it didn't help with fuel economy or starting issue. It will start every time but sometimes the starter has to turn over a dozen or more times before it fires and this is only when it's warm. If it's cold, it fires right up.

 

[profro]

The lift will be easy. I have done 2 and if you can unbolt the shocks without any rust issues it goes pretty easy.

Didn't know the fuel filter was such a challenge.

I got projects todo on my 2000 F250 as well. Always something.