Aluminum Radiator

Nice, and its 4" shorter length than the 4runner version! @COMAtized99 thanks for posting, just pulled the trigger on this.

 

If you go directly to Champion's web page, I believe it's a bit cheaper. I just recieved my Champion Radiator yesterday.

http://www.championradiators.com/Toyota-Tacoma-Radiator-1995-2004

 

When I posted that, there was no Tacoma stuff on their site

 

I get it. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

 

The dude in the big brown truck brought me a present yesterday.

Item is packed very nicely.

After inspection... not one, single, fin is even bent. The radiator appears VERY nicely built. Really nice, clean, welds... everything appears to be located where it should be.
(there is a definate difference between this (Tacoma) radiator and the one for the 4runner. The rad cap will definately sit lower and should clear.


I'm waiting on the rest of my parts for my Timing belt replacement to install this radiator, will definatley post what I find when I get it in the truck.

 

Very nice thanks for posting. Measured dimensions look like they'll work for SAS swaps that use a smaller 2.7l radiator.

 

Is there anything different you gotta do for maintaining an aluminum radiator? I remember reading something about making sure you completely flush it if changing to aluminum, even if it looks clean and good... And that you gotta maintain it more carefully and not neglect it or it ruins it much quicker than a typical radiator?

 

I'm going to flush the heck out of my cooling system before installing my new radiator... not because it's aluminum but because I want to get any shit in my system out before putting in a brand new radiator (and waterpump)

There's really no difference in maintaining an all aluminum radiator because the stock radiator already has an aluminum core anyway.

 

Yeah 10-4. Thats what I did when I did my tbelt and pump. And will probly again just to be safe, if I get one of these. Because my trigger finger is tempted rn. Ha. At least get one to have for now if I cant find time to do it among my other list of things to do, before they start selling out. Lol.

 

I feel ya. I decided to just go ahead and pull the trigger on mine since I'm going to have to pull the radiator to do the timing belt and water pump. Now it has to sit till I get the Timing belt waterpump belts etc etc.

I'll probably get the rest of the stuff in the next couple weeks... I'm getting too fast and loose with "projects."

I'm getting ADHD with the shit I'm doing to my truck... just refinished a set of Weatherguard side boxes I bought for it, then bought all the steel to do a roof top tent rack, been adding to my recovery kit, all while I'm collecting parts to re-do 3/4 of the cooling system...lol

 

Actually I might go ahead with this first. Because I gotta tear the top end down and fix a slight coolant leak coming from the heater bypass hose(I think)... Yay. So I gotta source more parts for that along with other things I can do while I'm at it like valve cover gaskets and whatnot. Ugh. So I feel ya. Ha.

 

Which options should we order with the radiator?

 

damnit.. i have a new OEM radiator sitting waiting for my truck now this pops up... oh well. see how the oem holds up with the new engine whenever i get that all done..

 

Pretty sure when my OEM one blew I replaced it with an aluminum one, but that was 5 years ago and I'm not sure the brand/type.

 

I would get just the radiator and bolt the OE fan shroud in and use the mechanical fan.

 

The overflow tank sounds nice. Especially since I need to relocate mine with my relentless bumper. Curious on the quality of the hoses, for $70 they better be ss braided, and not those cheapy ones. But polishing seems pointless unless you got a show truck, or have a super clean engine bay. I think I am gonna get one. Gotta measure first and make sure it fits. I think theyre the same measurements iirc.

 

Whats the warranty? Doesn't officially state whether its lifetime.

 

A mechanic friend of mine did a V-8 conversion with an aluminum radiator. Several years later the radiator cracked. Long story short. The radiator company said to use rubber cushions on the mounting points for flex.

He had mounted the radiator solid.

 

Our factory radiators didn't come with any, mounted directly to the frame. I guess it wouldn't be a hassle to find something at your local hardware store though.

 

4wd and prerunner folks will need to trim the bottom of the OE fan shroud to use this "short core" radiator (Champion). Just how much and and where will vary depending on OE trans type and personal aesthetics.
Toyota made 3 core heights for the 1st gen and the Champion is using the core height found in 4cyl 5 lug trucks. 4WD and prerunners came with one of the two larger cores depending on trans type. The mount holes are the same for all applications. The only difference is how far down they hang beneath the lower mount holes. The core heights were 18 5/8, 20 3/4 and 22 5/8, give or take an eighth depending on who is measuring. The latter 2 being 4WD/prerunner, manual and auto trans respectively.

Feel around or look at the bottom of the OE shroud vs lower core seam to get an idea on the trimming needed. This is definitely not a deal breaker at all. IFS auto trans folks will also be able to use a custom skid with a better approach angle, sloping directly back from the front cross member instead of needing the "one size fits all" OE style that drops down a few inches then slopes back.