Aluminum radiator advise needed please

I’ve been using a denso for a 2.4 on my wife’s 3.4 4runner w/ no issues. Keeps it from hanging below the frame rails. It’ll be a toss up between that or a more expensive all aluminum one for my 1st Gen once it’s it’s got a motor. Got a Champion that kept it a cool 184* when idling at 1800 before I removed the engine and put it in my wife’s ride. Not confident enough to run it off road.

 

Original oem were Harrison. Don’t have any loyalty towards any brand - just a fyi

 

There are a number of those that have put a champion in a heavy off road tacoma/4runner,
and they did not hold up....they cracked.........and that was after mounting on floating bushings....

Not sure on the other aluminum jobs.....but the denso did much much better off road....



Like I;ve said....I've championed champions......but everything has its limits.

 

Yep. I bought mine on the second round of imported Champions and my 1st gen’s been a driveway ornament the whole time while I read the reports of them cracking in multiple areas even on street trucks. If it was only the tanks that leaked I’d give it a try, but not when it’s leaking from the fins where it can’t be re-welded that easily.

 

Yeah I'm three years out on a champion.......
mines also the 2nd gen one.

I mounted it on rubber bushings, and I run the Peak 10X......

Its a 100% Rwd commuter....


I have a brandnew denso in a box.....
......so I doubt the champion will ever fail.
......just the way it goes.....

 

we have CSF available @ https://holyhorsepower.co shoot me a DM if CSF is in your short list.

 

I paid $80 for a jy OEM when mine went over the winter. The one that failed (top plastic crimp joint and cracks at the top neck) was not an original.

I flushed the fek out the used one, checked it for leaks by taping the ends and submerging it in a wheelbarrow full of water, then tossed it in. 5k miles so far no issues. I wouldnt recommend buying a used radiator but i really didnt have the extra $30 for chinesium off rockauto. So far so good

 

97 Toyo 2.4L 5 speed, I am in middle of radiator replacement along with harmonic balancer. have ordered yesterday from Rock Auto, replacements. for my model and year 3 different radiators are all possibilities, I really wanted to buy a all alum. radiator but with warnings from other similar web sites that alum. radiators sometimes will not allow hood to latch I picked a radiator from obsolete listing on rock auto little less than $100, just hoping will be bolt up part with no issues.