stock radiator screwed - rebuild or replace

[Gurkha Offroad]

the radiator of my 91 PZJ 70 has been damaged beyond the point of repair, over its 20 years of service through sheer negligence. i now have two options, the first - to get my local radiator shop to swap out the core of the present radiator, last - replace it. i am inclined towards the first but am in doubt if local manufacturing will be able to hold up to what i throw at it with the cruiser, planning a trip above 5000 m. a new radiator costs almost a grand where i live and that is out of my budget. the fabrication standard here is however still in its adolescene and i don't know whether to trust it.
what do you think i should do. if i do get them to build me one, any ideas on how to test it so that i don't get stuck in the middle of nowhere all alone or worse cause damage to the cruiser.

 

[kbushnz]

Well you seem to have answered your own question...If you don't trust the local repair shops then go OEM.
Then you will have another 20 years good service.
And or get the old one repaired / recored and keep it for a backup if you go on big treks....

A pressure test is the norm for radiator repairs. And the shop should do that after the re core to check for leaks and workmanship on joints. So it should be good for a few years.
Here in NZ, the local re cores didn't last the distance over an OEM. Fins and tubes were a bit thinner and tended to corrode away..
Lets say they would last 5 years as opposed to an OEM lasting 10 years plus.
Hope this helps.

 

[Estancio]

Well you seem to have answered your own question...If you don't trust the local repair shops then go OEM.
Then you will have another 20 years good service.
And or get the old one repaired / recored and keep it for a backup if you go on big treks....

X2. Happened to my BJ70 after 20 years on stock radiator. Bought new Toyota one for just under $500 and later on had old one recored for a backup.

 

[cicak]

the radiator of my 91 PZJ 70 has been damaged beyond the point of repair, over its 20 years of service through sheer negligence. i now have two options, the first - to get my local radiator shop to swap out the core of the present radiator, last - replace it. i am inclined towards the first but am in doubt if local manufacturing will be able to hold up to what i throw at it with the cruiser, planning a trip above 5000 m. a new radiator costs almost a grand where i live and that is out of my budget. the fabrication standard here is however still in its adolescene and i don't know whether to trust it.
what do you think i should do. if i do get them to build me one, any ideas on how to test it so that i don't get stuck in the middle of nowhere all alone or worse cause damage to the cruiser.

where you from no idea your location.

By toyota and recore the other as a spare.

 

[Gurkha Offroad]

from nepal. i found one shop so far that has toyota radiator but the quote stands at $990 so i need other options.
my mechanic is trying to convince me to take the core of a radiator from another suv and combine it with the frame of this radiator. i am however against that.
anyone have any documents detailing the technical aspects of the radiator in a 1PZ motor?
what about the effect of changing the size of a radiator? will changing the volume of the coolant, mostly increasing it, have drastic changes on the performance of the engine?