Champion Radiator Aluminum 3 core swap

Or just, you know, use the one that came off the old radiator. Worked fine.

(EDIT: seems there was a design change. Unless you buy the old style, which I don't know how you'd get at this point, just use the stock bit).

 

That's what I did. Thanks.

 

This is correct. Do not over tighten either. One of the downsides to JIC is if overtightened it can ruin it and won’t completely seal.

 

True, but they are MUCH harder to distort than their Aluminum counterparts, AN fittings.

 

Anyone have any updates on the longevity of this radiator?

Would like to know how it is working for you.

 

I installed mine a little over a year ago and around 30,000 miles on the radiator.

No issues here, works fantastic

Some people have had a few leaks if you read through the thread you will see

 

I think I installed mine about 3 months ago. No leaks, no overheats, no worries. It just works.

 

so..

there is a function on the form call Multi-Quote. Instead of quoting and posting one at a time, if you click the Multi-Quote + thats just to the left of Quote, it'll just save who you want to quote. Even if you go to the next page.

Then at the bottom in the reply section, you just click Insert Quote and you can then pick which ones you want to keep. It'll insert them in order, then you can reply to them all at once in one post.

Just a tip..

 

Yeah, I saw this last time you posted it. I'm quite well aware of it.

I just don't care.

It's not going to happen on a 5" screen.

 

Lol it's just as easy on a phone man. But whatever

 

I was reluctant to install the replacement radiator and for good reasons. I took the day off today so that I could swap out my old WORKING radiator for the replacement Champion radiator. I finished up the install and had me truck running to warm it up and what does my ten-year-old daughter tell me, “Dad, your truck is leaking.” Sure enough, right in the middle of the lower tank weld is a nice steady drip!

Now I have wasted two days of work replacing BAD Champion radiators for old original working radiator. So, I am out the $213.37 for the original BAD Champion radiator, thirty something dollars to mail back the BAD Champion radiator, two days off work, and now another thirty something dollars to ship another BAD Champion radiator back.

What is going on with the quality control section at Champion radiator? Do they even check them? Or do they just expect them all to work correctly? All I know is that I am very upset with this whole fiasco and I want my money back! I should have asked for my money back in the first place, at least I wouldn’t be out more money and wasted time.

(Edited, the lower price was for another Toyota radiator that ebay tried to sell me.)

 

where do you see $134

 

right? I'll re-weld it for that price. where is it?

 

See edit above.

See edit above.

 

Let’s hope all of us have better luck down the line. I don’t know anything about champion beside their customer service isn’t the best. Everyone raves about this radiator for our 1st gen but they haven’t been out long enough to know their durability.

I understand your frustration and I think we all been there. It is what it is and we just have to move on. Fortunately for me I got this radiator for free because of their lack of service so I can’t be too upset if it doesn’t hold up. I also have some JB weld on stand by

 

Alumifix™ Welding Rod's This is all you need to fix any holes .

 

Been out long enough with almost a 50% fail rate near as I can tell.

 

Out of curiosity, @1997tacomav6 you should add a poll to see how many radiators have failed and how many are still up and running with no issues. Maybe something like:
1.) failed with in 5k miles
2.) running past 10k
3.) running past 25k
4.) running past 50k

Edit: mine failed around 8k. (Started leaking)

 

I was planning on getting Champion radiator for my Camaro as they had a custom 3 row aluminum radiator capable of supporting 800 plus hp . Then I found out they used small tubes (3/4" tubes) . This would cause the radiator not to cool as efficiently as a 2 row radiator with bigger tubes

Plus as you mentioned bad quality control with bad welds . I decided on purchasing a very nice Griffin Aluminum 2 row radiator that had 1.25" tubes that supports 800hp


I know this radiator doesn't fit our Tacoma's but it's very nice and comparable to a BeCool or C&R radiators

 

I'm guessing you're not in your late 40s, are you?

It's a vision thing, not a GUI thing..