Opinions on an alloy radiator in a ln106 2.8

[Oldhenry]

Looking at getting a 3 core to replace my standard radiator after turboing my lux. Been up in the high country and it hasn't been liking driving some of the long steep winding hill. My old man just got a custom made brass one for his 2.8 turbo 4runner and has fixed all the problems he had but cost almost $1000. Alloy ones u can get for half the price. And opinions as to good or bad and problems found using alloy

[brad 93hilux]

I've had ongoing problems with overheating for the past 6odd years, during which I tried one of the cheap eBay ones.

It didnt help nor hinder the temp problem, but in the last 4wd comp I damaged it and went to a old standard copper one $50 cheap fix, and have actually noticed the temps are better now with it over the alloy one.

IMOP maybe alloy is ok but don't skimp on the quality/price and get a good one if you are going to.

Brad

[Oldhenry]

Did u buy a 3 core 62 mm rad or a standard size. I looked at eBay but thought IDE rather go through natrad or somewhere along those lines. From my understanding the factory radiator is only a 2 core 45mm. Am I correct in that.

[brad 93hilux]

Yeh it was the standard size, I think 2 core but not 100% sure on that.
The main difference in quality of a radiator is the core, I've been told the cheaper rads have a lower fins per inch where as a higher quality one has more fins per inch, apparently higher gives a better heat transfer.

Most radiator places I've talked to suggested the best fix is not alloy but to recore your factory one to 3 or 4 core with a quality core.

Brad

[Oldhenry]

Ok I'll have a chat to some radiator places And see what they can knock up

[Struth]

Definately stick to a copper/brass unit. You should be able to get your original unit beefed up with an extra core or two cheaper than buying aluminium.

Cheers

[Oldhenry]

Any reason for your thoughts on the brass being better struth. My old man just paid $800 bucks for his copper unit to be recorded and I thought it was a big steep but I'm yet to chase around prices from my local shops.

[Struth]

I have run ali and brass, to me the ali units simply reek of heat being pushed out into the engine bay and causing the overall engine bay temps to be too high as well as heating the air box and therefore the air entering the motor. They also have a tendency to crack or fail in 4WDs.

I had my V6 4 Runner radiator converted to 4 cores and the inlet and outlet sizes changed to suit my motor for $450. I went from running temps of 95 degrees to 80 degrees and from going from 100 deg to overheated in no time with the ali unit, to slowly creeping after 100 degrees and settling under 110 unless seriously pushed in lo range.

Others may have had better ali radiators and results than me, so it's just my experience.

[Oldhenry]

Ah that's very interesting reading there struth and ill be taking that on board for sure. I'm thinking after doing some research ill look at beefing up my brass unit. Can I get a 4core put in instead of a 2core or can I only fit a 3 in those engine bays.

[fjn00b]

i'm running a alloy in my fj40 (v8 cleveland) and its a cheap piece of crap off ebay. I've had alot of heating problems and took the radiator into natrad to flush out and they said they at the time it was rubbish material that had been used. that had to weld up some of it and said they had alot of trouble because of how crap it was.

I didn't have any fans so ended up putting thermos on and its OK, but it will be going at some stage when im back on the road.

[old lux]

talked to a ADRAD bloke and he says they sell aftermarket 3 for rads for the hilux with as brad said (high Fin Bullshit) didnt give me a price.

but was talking to another radiator bloke and he said i should just turn mine into 4 core and it'll cost me about 450-500 if i remember correctly.

and with my issues i have had lately highly considering it cause the ute doesnt like driveing atm. gets very hot very quick. also think its to do with the time of year to affecting my tune. cause within 5 ks of driving it gets to 95-100*c

[Oldhenry]

Well I have spoken to some guys and decided to go with the brass copper 3 core. I spoke to a guy at Belmont auto electrics called Shannon and he builds a lot of radiators for 4wds with the same some of problem and has got onto a core that is apparently the bees knees. It's 57 mm thick instead of my current 45 mm and apparently has a design where the tubes are dimpled which makes the coolant spin up the tubes instead of just flow through straight which apparently cools much more efficient. Though after talking to him his view on either brass or aluminium was that on any other car then a 4wd he would always run a alloy radiator as his opinion was that they run about 15 percent more efficient then copper. But he suggested copper just for the fact that it is easily repaired most anywhere. So fingure a crossed this radiator and new fan hub, fan and new ac core should keep up with anything I can throw at it. Cheers for the advice guys.

[old ed]

interesting observation struth. where else is a raddiator going to dump its heat?

[MUD000]

I ran a PWR rad in my 80 with the 6ltr in it & hated it. I now run a standard 80 rad & have had no problems at all
Cheers Dan

[Struth]

interesting observation struth. where else is a raddiator going to dump its heat?

No where else, but the ali unit simply saturated the engine bay in heat, opening the bonnet was like opening an oven the brass/copper unit does not do this.

[Oldhenry]

Interesting what people's thoughts are but I suppose keeping with what the car was originally bought out with is probably the best option and just beefing it up as much as possible.