what is the best radiator besides oem

[scottryana]

Sure hope this was during mockup and you're not driving around with a 2" gap around your radiator. lol.

I went a completely different route. I went with the Ron Davis Racing radiator ($900 ) and I am convinced that while I was going through my overheating hell (I'm at my absolute wits end- truck still overheating despite best efforts) that if I did not have this radiator installed to remove as much heat as it did, that I would have done some serious damage to my fresh motor rebuild.

 

[Landseer]

The company that made the radiators for this

also makes a radiator for the 80 series
High Performance 1993-1997 TOYOTA Landcruiser Aluminum Radiator

No personal experience but the team building the plane was very impressed with the quality of their radiators and the customer service. The radiator is pricy at $700 but still cheaper than the Ron Davis.

 

[NLXTACY]

The company that made the radiators for thisView attachment 1127727

also makes a radiator for the 80 series
High Performance 1993-1997 TOYOTA Landcruiser Aluminum Radiator

No personal experience but the team building the plane was very impressed with the quality of their radiators and the customer service. The radiator is pricy at $700 but still cheaper than the Ron Davis.

I saw this about a month after installing my RD but couldn't find anyone that had installed it. I really didn't want to be their guinea pig and RD already had nearly 50 installations of their radiator by the time I got mine.

 

[CDmpc]

Bugatti design reborn. I saw some video of this a few weeks back.

 

[Rookie2]

Well here it is. It IS a Koyo for $177 delivered ( 1918 Koyorad - Radiator ). It's in a Koyo box with Koyo stickers on it but a TYC sticker on the box. I spoke with Koyo last week and they said they make radiators for TYC and it is a Koyo if it comes in a Koyo box with a Koyo sticker on the radiator. This radiator is definitely different than the TYC one I got off of Amazon. These fittings are brass, the other were silver. This is in a different box w/different packaging & made in Indonesia (the TYC was made in China). Also, the aluminum 'frame' on this one is completely different than the TYC boxed one.

Good deal. Are you planning on installing it anytime soon?

 

[LFD2037]

Good deal. Are you planning on installing it anytime soon?

Saturday morning!

 

[Rookie2]

Saturday morning!

Well, any updates on how the install went and any info on perform yet?

 

[LFD2037]

Install was a PITA. I've installed probably 10 radiators on different vehicles and this was by far the worst. I replaced radiator, AC idler puller bearing, 2 alternator belts and water pump. Took me exactly 3 hours. I replaced the radiator because others kept saying I had a cooling problem and I kept saying I didnt. Well, exact same numbers with the new Koyo radiator. It's not that the Koyo isn't good enough, it is, it's just there was nothing wrong with my cooling system just like I had said. Within 10K miles ago I'd replaced the t-stat, all coolant hoses and flushed system 4 times. I wouldn't have gone they all this trouble if other's hadn't constantly said there was a cooling issue. The radiator I took out was replaced by PO and was in perfect condition inside and out! Oh well, entire cooling system is new and shouldn't have to be dealt with for many miles.

 

[Rookie2]

Really? Mine is leaking so I have to replace. You think it is a good quality radiator? I ran through the FSM and the removal/install looks straightforward. Any particular issues you ran into?

 

[LFD2037]

It's not difficult, just time consuming. I removed grill and all front lights. Tried doing it without removing them but gave in. I also had to remove PS second battery tray. The radiator is nice and perfect. A $300 radiator for $175 delivered is the best deal you're going to find. I don't see how the OEM TRAD rad. can be any better than the Koyo. It's a really quality unit.

 

[dogfishlake]

It's not difficult, just time consuming. I removed grill and all front lights. Tried doing it without removing them but gave in. I also had to remove PS second battery tray. The radiator is nice and perfect. A $300 radiator for $175 delivered is the best deal you're going to find. I don't see how the OEM TRAD rad. can be any better than the Koyo. It's a really quality unit.

Unfortunately, I saw this thread after I bought,my Koyorad from amazon, so I paid $100 more for mine. Nonetheless, I am extremely impressed as well to the quality of the radiator. At $175, it's a score!

 

[Rookie2]

It's not difficult, just time consuming. I removed grill and all front lights. Tried doing it without removing them but gave in. I also had to remove PS second battery tray. The radiator is nice and perfect. A $300 radiator for $175 delivered is the best deal you're going to find. I don't see how the OEM TRAD rad. can be any better than the Koyo. It's a really quality unit.

Cool man. I appreciate all your feedback.

 

[LFD2037]

One thing to remember if you take off the alt. belts, there's 3 bolts to move it. Loosen a bolt on bottom of alt, bolt on top of alt then the long adjustment bolt.

 

[Hinterland]

I got mine from 1-800-radiator. came the next day and fit well. no problems so far. Was about $180 if i remember correctly.

 

[Rookie2]

What kind of coolant are you all running in these radiators? Same as before... Either the conventional green formula or Toyota red?

 

[LFD2037]

I'm green. Red is not only overrated & hard to get in a pinch but overpriced as well!

 

[Hinterland]

I'm running red

 

[Rookie2]

It's not difficult, just time consuming. I removed grill and all front lights.

What was it that you weren't able to get to that caused you to remove the lights? I was just looking the job over and seemed like I was going to be able I get to everything I needed to.

 

[NLXTACY]

I only removed both batteries and only the DS battery tray. I drilled a .75" hole in the PS tray nearest to the radiator. This opened up access to the one annoying bolt. After that it was really no big deal. Over rated issues IMHO.

 

[LFD2037]

What was it that you weren't able to get to that caused you to remove the lights? I was just looking the job over and seemed like I was going to be able I get to everything I needed to.

The 2 hidden bolts behind the grill. I tried with 1/4" drive swivel and couldn't get it. Took an extra 15 minutes maybe. I guess every rig is different but these bolts were BEHIND the corner of the headlights and it absolutely wasn't happening.