Things I learned during radiator replacement.

[Tentsontop]

1. CDan saved me about 45% vs. local stealership parts quote.
2. FAQ suggestion to drain from block plug first is a bad idea. If you do it, >150 degree hot stuff is going to shoot out of there like a fire hose - straight at your face if you're ogling the bolt through the wheel well.
3. Putting the alternator back is a major PITA.
4. Stock hose clamps are also a PITA if you're like me and couldn't find a large pair of pliers.
5. NAPA hoses - not so good.
6. Fan, clutch and shroud all come out/go in together.
7. 1/4 drive extension w/knuckle can reach between light and grille and make removing the radiator a bit easier.
8. OEM thermostat much better than aftermarket IMO.
9. KOYO radiator is >< exactly like OEM - just doesn't have the FZJ or whatever the stamp is on the top of the stocker @ 1/2 price.
9. Flush block/heater cores, reverse flush block heater cores, flush w/distilled H2O - no more green!

 

[Erratic]

everyone here that works on their truck should have a set of these. Well worth the 40 bucks IMO. So easy. I got a set the other day and cant stop playing with them. I love em!!!

Sears.com Hose clamp tool. Do it.

 

[medtro]

2. FAQ suggestion to drain from block plug first is a bad idea. If you do it, >150 degree hot stuff is going to shoot out of there like a fire hose - straight at your face if you're ogling the bolt through the wheel well.

Did you have the rad cap removed?

 

[Tentsontop]

I refuse to answer that question . . .

 

[Tentsontop]

everyone here that works on their truck should have a set of these. Well worth the 40 bucks IMO. So easy. I got a set the other day and cant stop playing with them. I love em!!!

Sears.com Hose clamp tool. Do it.

Nice.

 

[LX_TREME]

And No water pump?

 

[Romer]

I refuse to answer that question . . .

You just did

 

[Tentsontop]

LX - There was nothing wrong with my WP thank you.

Romer - Maybe I should explain that after reading all the writeups on the pitfalls of mixing green/red coolant I was very determined to get all the green out. I won't say how many times I flushed the entire system, but I will say that on the final distilled flush I was in a hurry to be done and was a little distracted. I'm happy to say that I can move pretty fast when I have to. My left index finger and thumb got a minor burn. Could have been worse for sure. The ratchet was still hot when I picked it up after putting my hand in ice water for a bit.

 

[NorCalDoug]

yeah...you learn some good stuff after yanking the radiator...I went through it last month.

 

[cruiserman]

IMO the stock hose clamps are awesome. I spent a few hours one day at the boneyard sourcing a bunch of similar clamps in different sizes from other Toyotas.

You don't have to pull the fan, clutch & shroud together if you don't want to.

 

[NorCalDoug]

IMO the stock hose clamps are awesome. I spent a few hours one day at the boneyard sourcing a bunch of similar clamps in different sizes from other Toyotas.

You don't have to pull the fan, clutch & shroud together if you don't want to.

I like the OEM clamps too, but could see how they'd be a major PITA if they're not positioned correctly or if you don't have the right sized pliers.

Vice grips worked well for me.

As for pulling the fan and clutch without pulling the shroud...I don't recall being able to do it.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Where did you get the KOYO Radiator?

 

[Tentsontop]

I got it off of ebay. There's a few others here who have gotten them from Performance Radiators or something like that. If you do a KOYO search it should turn up some fairly recent threads that will point you in the right direction.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

For me a 12mm Gearwrench was the life saver on getting the upper rad. bolts behind the grille and next to the headlamp. Saved me from doing anything with the grille and lights. I did remove the crossmember at the top of the radiator.

That hose clamp tool is cool. I could see that being REAL handy if the ears on the clamp were facing somewhere you couldn't get pliers on them.

 

[cruiserman]

It's kind of hard for me to imagine that someone has a set of wrenches but no channel locks .