What happens when you have free time (inspired by tbst)

[Nashvegas34]

This is what happens when you have some free time on the weekend:



In the picture is my 12-year-old radiator, the coolant that was in it, my filthy skid plates, dangling transmission lines, and drained transmission fluid. Let's just say we're not going anywhere for a bit.

Spurred into action by tbst's recent meltdown (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114683-what-f-7k-just-happened.html), I got started on installing the new radiator and transmission cooler that have been in my closet for about 6 weeks, as well as changing the timing belt, water pump, and accessory belts. My stock radiator looked pretty beat up on the front after 12 years and 186,000+ miles, so I thought I would take off the transmission fluid cooler fittings and see how they look. Someone on YT did this a few years ago and what he found was pretty scary (any body ever crack-opened up OEM rad, if not, here we go! - YotaTech Forums).

Here is the back of my original radiator:



Here are the fittings:





To my pleasant surprise, they are spotless. There is no evidence of corrosion whatsoever. I didn't take the entire trans cooler apart like the YT guy did, but I could move it around inside the radiator enough to tell that the connection points are in excellent condition. I suppose it's possible that there could be a weakness somewhere in the actual metal line, but the connection points are where people seem to have the issues. I'm still installing the new Koyo radiator simply as preventive maintenance, but I was happy to see that the milkshake did not appear imminent in my case.

 

[tbst]

And now... Another one won't bite the dust...

 

[1985taylor1925]

I have around 186k miles as well, and have a brand new Denso rad waiting to be installed. I plan on doing it this week

 

[BrianSD_42]

The lack of corrosion is a good sign.

The radiator doesn't exactly fail at the fitting though to cause a pM.

Nice work though!

 

[shadow247]

Nice work. I need to drop a new rad in my ride, but I just spent 120 bucks on new CV Axles. Still need to do a diff service on the front and rear. I plan to do a tranny flush when I do a new radiator, plus brake flush and power steering flush. Then I will have all new fluids save the A/C Freon. WIth 341k on the clock I am semi nervous about a meltdown, but the PO kept up with the maintenance pretty well since he drove it on road trips a lot.

 

[LittleCaesar]

My connectors looked just as clean when I junked mine; I chalked it up to the previous owner changing out the fluid every 30,000 miles.

 

[Qyota]

Looks great. Are you positive it's the original radiator?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Glad to hear is was a fairly easy swap. Ive got a radiator sitting in the garage waiting for me to install it too.

 

[Nashvegas34]

Looks great. Are you positive it's the original radiator?

Sorry for the delay. Yes, I bought my truck new off the lot 12 years ago, so it's original.

 

[Nashvegas34]

Updating my progress:

It took a few days of off and on work, but yesterday I completed the following:

Replaced timimg belt, water pump, thermostat, idler and tensioner pulleys, timing belt tensioner, crankshaft bolt (torqued to the full 217 ft/lbs), all 3 accesory belts, AND the radiator; filled the new radiator with new Toyota coolant; drained and filled transmission fluid (just a regular maintenance item).

My truck is very happy right now. I had developed a squeal that I assumed was from a belt. A belt may well have been the culprit, but I did find that my idler roller (the one between the two cams) had a bit of a grinding noise/feel to it. I was replacing that anyway. Now the squeal is gone and I hear nothing but the purring of the 3.4.

The timing belt that I replaced did not look bad/worn at all, and the water pump showed no signs of a leak, although the water pump gasket was a PITA to clean off of the engine. Both the belt and the pump had ~95,000 on them.

The Koyo/TYC 1998 radiator was a perfect fit. No milkshake for me, thanks.

I have not yet installed my trans cooler, the B&M 70264. I just ran out of time and needed to get my truck functional again. I'll add it this weekend or next, probably in line with the new radiator, although this in-line vs. bypass debate is ongoing and very lively in my head.

tbst, sorry to capitalize on your misfortune, but your milkshake got me off of my a$$ and down to business.