Champion Radiator Aluminum 3 core swap

If you have the 3.4 motor you want the shroud that came with the 5 speed model not the automatic shroud as it’s 2” taller.
You still will need to trim the shroud for the peacock and lower radiator hose
and if you have an automatic transmission you will need to make cutouts for the lines

 

Nah I did mine with the shroud on. The bottom half of the part that wraps around the should just comes off. Held on by two clips. I didn't have an issue putting it on with the shroud and connecting all the lines

 

How do like the new radiator, Im super happy with mine

 

Well I out it in with the new timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, wires, intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, belts, and added a tranny cooler.

Then put 2000 miles on it in 4 days haha

I'm very happy. I don't have a way to monitor Temps but it fits great and seems to be working well.

Only thing is it's obviously all metal so it is much warmer to touch if you open the hood to poke around.

But running smooth and working great!

 

Did this today coming home from Phoenix yesterday from training and my truck got hotter than it ever has. It got up to 210° then for a split second it flashed 212° which got me worried. I drove home with the A/C off in 104°, yuck.

Got up this morning, drained the coolant, pulled the stock radiator, replaced the Stant 170° thermostat, which never got below 188° and made this happen!

 

Hopefully this new radiator will take care of all your heat issues

 

I have the same skid plate and I am getting this radiator on Wednesday. Does the skid plate hit the radiator??

 

Nope, the radiator sits up in the frame now, doesn’t sit down like the old radiator, so no issues

 

New radiator performance for me is wonderful

93 degrees outside

AC on full blast
20 mpg
Radiator temperature at 188
I will check back when temps hit 100 outside

Thumbs up

 

Very nice, what mirror are you running?

 

Gentex 313 out of a 2002 Tahoe
And a 4 runner overhead dual light console

gentex rear view mirror with, temp, compass, auto dim function

 

Are you going to put the 170° thermostat ?

 

Nope, I don’t think there’s a reason that I need to. The radiator keeps my temps at 185-190 and the
engine was designed to operate In that range

 

“Engine life is shorter when the engine is run cooler because there needs to be a sufficient engine temperature to burn off the atmospheric contaminants that are attracted to oil - oil is hydroscopic. Max effort later model computerized fuel injected engine tuners shoot for lower temperatures (~ 160 to 170) because they are fighting the dreaded knock sensors that will pull out serious amounts of timing if they perceive any detonation (knock sensors are not perfect).”

If you google the ideal engine temperature a 160 degrees thermostat will cause double the engine wear amount of a 185 thermostat

 

Good info. I should just start with the radiator. Run it for a bit and keep an eye on the temps and “if” I need the 170 thermostat then add it. If not then I should be good to go. Thanks for sharing bud. I’m currently running in mid 200’s. I just want to get it below 200.

 

Ok excellent,
There are a number of items to look at if your running hot

1) radiator
2) thermostat
3) fan clutch, green hub one is the heavy duty
4) fan blade
5) shroud

If any of these are defective the motor will run hot,
When I replaced my motor at 480,000 I installed a new heavy duty fan clutch and a
new fan blade.

My old fan blade was warped to hell compared to the new one.
I was not having heat issues but if the fan blade is warped the pitch will be out of wack

 

this is a nice upgrade does anyone have a prt number for this manual radiator fan shroud?

i have a automatic and it seems my shroud will be rendered useless after this upgrade.

 

Drove 40 miles both ways from 7000 feet to 8500 feet. Idle temp was 188° and driving temp was 186°. Hottest it got climbing hills was 188°.
Fuel mileage was around 22 mpg average after newMAF.

 

Yup, those are about the same numbers I’m running now,
Perfect

 

I just put 3500ish miles on mine was in ST louis and it was hot. No issues so far. Been great. I don't have a way to monitor temps..so no numbers.

the 170º thermostat is designed for superchargers only as it makes the engine a lot hotter. I know John runs meth/water so not as big of an issue for him.