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way to double down on technology with the cool toy!! Why not just grab a FLIR camera vs a $30 cheapie IR temp gun?
Maybe just have the radiator shop "rod" out your core, see if that helps, before you spring for a new core.
Can you get a pic for us of what fan you’re running and does it have a fan clutch ? I think it doesn’t hurt to base line your radiator and whole water system. All of this is money well spent and will keep you of the tow trucks bed.
Save yourself and just buy a new one. Baseline means you go through everything in the vehicle and baseline it. So replace old hoses and belts, change the fluids, replace the plugs,wires and cap. Just get it baseline so you know what you have and don’t end up broke down with a leaking hose that’s rotten and ten years old.
OEM 2F Radiator for Land Cruiser FJ40
Toyota OEM radiator. Fits all years of Land Cruiser FJ40 with 2F egine and without factory A/C. 4 core. Includes radiator cap and drain plug extension. Shipping notes: Due to Toyota factory packing being insufficient for transport, the factory box will be repacked by us with additional...www.cityracerllc.com
It is my considered opinion that an original radiator, when repaired by a craft radiator person, is superior to a store-bought new radiator. Hear me out.just buy a new one.
My new OEM radiator split after two years so maybe it continues on. I literally just replaced it again with aluminum instead of OEM.It is my considered opinion that an original radiator, when repaired by a craft radiator person, is superior to a store-bought new radiator. Hear me out.
The original FJ40 radiators, from the factory, had a habit of the top tank seam splitting. I've seen it on several mid '70s 40s, heard about many more. Perhaps they've ironed out this SNAFU in the last 40-50 years, i dunno. But, when a good radiator guy takes your top tank off, for a rod job or whatever, when he puts it back on, it don't leak, it don't split.
Now, I'll let on that my opinion may be biased by the facts that,
1) I have found a very good radiator shop. It's made of bricks so it won't burn down easily. It's been there forever, the guy that runs it is old like me and knows his stuff. He's done little jobs for me, like re-soldering the overflow tube back onto the filler neck WITH the radiator still in the Pig.
B) I can't just go out and buy a new FJ55 radiator off the shelf, so I kinda hafta go to a radiator guy. I tried a 4-row core many years ago, not a good idea. Too thin and flimsy (the tubes and fins). The good shop I now use re-cored me with a 3-row that looks OEM, thick and sturdy. He painted it glossy black and it looks and performs showroom new. O.K., I don't know about showroom new ,I bought this '74 FJ55 in 1986. So, 34 years of ownership and maybe 4 or 5 radiator changes, I'm allowed to opine...
My suggestions:
1) Find the oldest radiator shop in your county, or state, if your state is small. It'll probably be made of brick, there's a lot of fire in radiator repair work. The owner should be old, like me, and know his stuff and won't blink when you tell him you want a rod job.
B) Have the radiator with you. Let him look at it, tell him your story. He may want to pressure test it. Good. He may say you need a new core, good, saves you the time & money on doing a rod job first. Listen to him, he knows more about radiators than you will ever care to know.
III) A recore will easily cost you as much as a new radiator. Crazy huh? But, your old re-cored radiator is better. Built for you one at a time, not on an assembly line.
Solid seams, built sturdy. And you now know the guy what built it. Any problem, you can call him. Who you gonna call when a store-bought radiator starts leaking from a splitting seam? A radiator guy?
Do some homework, do some legwork. Find the good shop in your area.
Roger is on this forum but I don’t remember his screen name, hopefully someone can point you in correct direction. His stuff usually ships fast, but the key is he makes sure it’s packed correctly.I ended up ordering a new OEM radiator from City Racer (thanks for the tip, @Casey E). Incidentally, does anyone know how long their shipping delays are these days? (ordered it 4 days ago, still hasn't shipped).
Once replaced, do you recommend that I hang onto the original radiator? Are the new OEM radiators made to the same quality as the original ones, or is there a chance I might want to eventually re-core the original one and pop it back in down the road (once I find my local Old Radiator Guy™).
Thanks for everyone's helpful advice and input.
Roger is on this forum but I don’t remember his screen name, hopefully someone can point you in correct direction. His stuff usually ships fast, but the key is he makes sure it’s packed correctly.