What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Looked at it today. Should be do able. Gonna suck with my hands but think I can do it..

 

Made it on Google Maps

 

That’s the spirit. Definitely sucks with the hands. Just think like Ray Charles and you’ll be fine.

 

Replaced my AC clutch and then installed a Champion radiator. After adding the SC, I had switched to the 2.4L radiator which is only 18”-ish tall but VERY skinny (I have a V6 w/auto trans). I didn’t want to have the super tall OEM radiator that hangs below the frame. I was getting operating temps around 195-205 even with a 170 degree T-stat I stalled. I thought the cheap-o 18” radiator would be fine, but the temps were too high for my liking. Hopefully the Champion radiator will perform a lot better than the 18” one. Btw… I think the core on the 18” one is around 5/8” thick and the Champion is about 3” thick.

 

Yeah, $600 for a very nice but overpriced piece of metal vs $60 and some gumption. What do you need it to do? Does it need to look pretty? Get some heavy paper, borrow your dad’s jigsaw and take a few trips to the hardware store and if it’s crap you’re out your time and some minor dough and you learned what you’d do different next time. My two cents not worth a dime

 

Spotted...

 

Thank you!

 

I just replaced all four of mine about a month ago. Wow, no more scratched arm hanging out the drivers side window. Plus it looks sooooo much nicer.

 

Well, the results are in. Champion radiator is performing as good as I’d hoped.

BEFORE: Temps with factory sized 2.4L radiator



AFTER: Temps with Champion radiator



On the interstate, both the Trans and Engine temps were reading consistently at 180. Very happy with the upgrade so far.

 

Much mo betta!

It’s kinda deceiving how easy they are to replace. Not sure I ever would’ve changed them if I didn’t stumble on this site.

 

Hope it lasts man. Mine didn't make it past 20ish k. Good luck!

 

I agree, it was so easy even a caveman could do it.

 

I'm hoping it will last as well; i've seen they are hit and miss as far as the quality goes. If it craps out, I might give the Koyorad a shot even though it's taller than the Champion. Cooling is definitely more important than hanging below the frame rails, but man... i'd really like to be above the frame rails if possible.

 

shit QC. The thread on here that had a lot of people try it I don't think anyone still has it haha. Some lasted 50-60k Others 5k. They would replace them but then the replacements would fail.

So..not worth it overall I'd say. Mine blew a seam and left me on the side of the highway.

 

Is there a fuel system cleaner that’s actually worth a damn? Sea foam?

my injectors(I think) seem loud asf, at 260k they probably need replaced or sent off and cleaned or whatever, but that’s gonna have to wait till next summer.

 

I saw that radiator thread and quickly ran the other way. Does champion have a legit R&D department or are they just modifying a different truck’s radiator to fit ours?

 

No clue. Don't care honestly haha was shit, probably never try it again from them.

 

I read dumping a big bottle of zippo lighter fluid is basically the same thing

 

so you’re telling me there’s a chance?

 

You said you were coming to the Basin on Tuesday? We can try it then