Radiator Advice

[Nineteen]

Hey There --

New guy here (to the forum, not to my T4R). I've got a 94 V6, and my radiator took a dive. Any recommendations on what to use? I see a broad spectrum from $120-300, and not sure what to go with. Is it a gigantic PITA to replace? Thinking of doing it myself this weekend. I built a 67 Cougar some years ago, but haven't done major work to the 4R yet.

As a side note, I pulled my running boards off, pretty clean but I seem to have lost the bolts for them. I'm in the Seattle area, and wondered if anyone could make use of them? Call it a Pay It Forward from the new guy.
:thanks:

 

[n8buddy]

Radiator is pretty easy to replace, drain coolant, disconnect hoses, remove fan shroud (2 pieces) unbolt rad and pull er out. Tricky part is getting all the coolant back in as the thermostat can be stubborn. when it comes to buying a rad, i think you get what you pay for. I had a cheap one put in at a local shop and it started leaking within 2 years. Replaced it with a Toyota OEM and the difference in quality is obvious, but it was more that double the cost.

 

[nunya]

Like said, it's a pretty simple thing to swap. I got a cheap one and it's been doeing me well so far. Can't get it to even hit half runnign it hard, I do run shroudless though since I'm waiting to put it on until I get a BL and have it trimmed how I need.

 

[Nineteen]

Thanks to both - I got some terrible quotes locally today in the area of 500 dollars, they can sit on that and spin! I'll do her myself, can't be any more difficult than a motor swap on the old Cougar - just working alot these days and the apartment manager yells when I disassemble vehicles in the parking garage, so I'll have to be sneaky.

Luckily the coolant is already drained, hence the need for replacement. I'll probably look at 250-300 for a decent OEM from radiator.com or performance radiator here in Seattle. Ready to be back behind the wheel, she's lonely, and my bro's Nissan Frontier just doesn't cut the mus****.

Thanks Again!

ETA: They edited out must@rd.

 

[fishrod]

Crap, I musta got a cheapo then! Mine was bought and installed for $350 CAD!!
They didnt give me any cheap/expensive options, just said they had one in stock that would fit/suit.

:S

 

[90toytruck.]

rad replacement is a easy task look around on the net you can find some great decent deals out there !! good luck

 

[Nineteen]

One further question - what's the thought behind Aluminum or Plastic Endtanks? I notice aluminum is a little bit cheaper, and certainly looks shiny, but is plastic going to hold up better? Reasoning behind price difference?

Thanks again.

 

[nunya]

Maby the way it holds heat? I prefer metal over plastic personally, but thats just me.

 

[Nineteen]

That's my thought too - I initially thought, hey, I'll definitely take aluminum over plastic. But it's $30 cheaper so made me think twice. I've got a 94 SR5 with 4wd and it seems way easier to find plastic endtanks than aluminum, vice-versa on 2wd models.:moping:

 

[dudeguesswhat]

I might be a day late, but I JUST (today) got my radiator from radiatorbarn.com and I highly recommend it. It's a 3 row metal radiator and it was only 150$, got here in 2 business days.

Hope you get a good one!

 

[Nineteen]

Thanks for the tip - I ordered it yesterday from Radiator.com since (after yelling at the guy) they got it to me in less than a day for 150. Should go in tonight, so excited to have my baby back.:jump: