So I ordered an all aluminum radiator on ebay for $240 for an 81-90 lancruiser that said it fits a bj42. After I receive it it's obvious it won't work. I call the seller he said that's an ebay screw up he can't fix but if I want to ship it back he would gladly refund the money. So I was left with a dilemma. Shipped back the radiator and be out, the $30 shipping and record my current radiator or make the one i ordered work
I decided to make this one work. Which really wasn't too bad took about 3 hrs total. It's now held on with six bolts to the cradle for the battery box. Here's the steps in order.
1) Fold down the front grille (I knew that would come in handy at some point)
2) Took out the old radiator, shroud, and cradle
3) Drivers side I welded a piece of angle iron tappered to fit the taper the battery box mount has leaning toward the firewall.
4) Passeger side was easier as the battery box isn't tapered and I just welded a piece of flat bar to extend it to fit the top holes of the radiator
5) Welded these pieces on and painted with POR 15.
6) Mark and drill 6 holes for the radiator so the radiator is sitting of the frame about 3/8"
7) bolted it on with rubber gromets between the welded on mounts and the radiator to absorb some shock
8) I left the shroud out. I figured a bigger 3 core radiator, aluminum radiator cooling better, and the fact I live in Oregon, shroud or no shroud overheating will not be a problem. But it would be fairly easy to fit that in too or buy a universal from Summit racing. Mine was pretty rusted anyway so I opted to leave it off.
9) The one downside as I wouldn't recommend using this particular radiator is the bottom hose is on the opposite side. Again I didn't want to waste $30 shipping back, so I bought stainless aluminum flex pipe radiator hose on ebay for $50 for 4 feet of it. I will have to route it under the oil pan but that shouldn't be a big deal.
I decided to make this one work. Which really wasn't too bad took about 3 hrs total. It's now held on with six bolts to the cradle for the battery box. Here's the steps in order.
1) Fold down the front grille (I knew that would come in handy at some point)
2) Took out the old radiator, shroud, and cradle
3) Drivers side I welded a piece of angle iron tappered to fit the taper the battery box mount has leaning toward the firewall.
4) Passeger side was easier as the battery box isn't tapered and I just welded a piece of flat bar to extend it to fit the top holes of the radiator
5) Welded these pieces on and painted with POR 15.
6) Mark and drill 6 holes for the radiator so the radiator is sitting of the frame about 3/8"
7) bolted it on with rubber gromets between the welded on mounts and the radiator to absorb some shock
8) I left the shroud out. I figured a bigger 3 core radiator, aluminum radiator cooling better, and the fact I live in Oregon, shroud or no shroud overheating will not be a problem. But it would be fairly easy to fit that in too or buy a universal from Summit racing. Mine was pretty rusted anyway so I opted to leave it off.
9) The one downside as I wouldn't recommend using this particular radiator is the bottom hose is on the opposite side. Again I didn't want to waste $30 shipping back, so I bought stainless aluminum flex pipe radiator hose on ebay for $50 for 4 feet of it. I will have to route it under the oil pan but that shouldn't be a big deal.
