Radiator Replacement Brands

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Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 16:33:59 -0700
From: "John D. Foster" 
Subject: Advice on Radiator: Modine or Stock?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

sbever@jeffnet.org wrote:
> 
> Are Modine radiators a good replacement for the stock radiator in an
> '88
> 4Runner (Manual, 22RE, EFI and AC), or is the Toyota radiator the only
> way to go here?

We use Modine radiators here at our shop, and never have any trouble w/
them (in the 6 months that I've been here).

J.D.
A-1 Body Shop (we do radiators too!)
 
- --

John D. Foster        mailto:jidd@mindless.com
Home Page (updated)   http://www.psnw.com/~jd/
Toyota Member List    http://www.geocities.com/Baja/9657/

1991 GMC S-15 Jimmy 4.3 V6
Toyota Axles, TH350, NP205

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Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 17:01:39 -0700
From: James Brink 
Subject: Advice on Radiator: Modine or Stock?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

sbever@jeffnet.org wrote:
> 
> Are Modine radiators a good replacement for the stock radiator in an '88
> 4Runner (Manual, 22RE, EFI and AC), or is the Toyota radiator the only
> way to go here?

I like the Modine radiators over the OEM replacements. Reason being OEM
radiators run in the $400 area whereas a new Modine will set you back
around $170 or so. I just installed a Modine in my '86 4WD truck and
I've have used them in several cars/trucks for years. Even many Toyota
dealers around here use these radiators as replacements over stock
(except in the case of warranty repairs).
> 
> Also, should I use a Toyota fan clutch or is something like Hayden OK to
> replace the Aisin clutch with?

I think the Hayden will be adequate. Another consideration...Cost. I put
a Hayden on my 2WD Toy and paid $32. Replaced one on a friend's 4Runner
with OEM--$88.
> 

- --
Jim Brink--Toyota/ASE Certified Technician
Manhattan Beach, CA
brinkjm@earthlink.net                           '86 Std. Bed/32"BFG A/T	
************************************************************************
TLCA# 6184/ Friends of the Mojave Road (FOMR) / MRVMA-DESERT EXPLORERS

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Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 16:40:30 -0700
From: Barney McNamara 
Subject: Advice on Radiator: Modine or Stock?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org, sbever@jeffnet.org

Scott wrote:
>Are Modine radiators a good replacement for the stock radiator in an '88 
>4Runner (Manual, 22RE, EFI and AC), or is the Toyota radiator the only 
>way to go here?

I put in a Modine when I first got the truck, about 2 years ago, and it
was fine for 18 months. It then started to crack at the bottom pipe joint
and slowly got worse until it was leaking an overflow bottle full every
gas fillup. I took it out and had it resoldered ($30) about 2 months ago, 
and so far, so good.
______________________________________________________________
Barney McNamara              JENNY - 83 Toyota Short Bed  
( barney@flowpoint.com )     stock 22R motor ; 3" body lift
Santa Cruz, Ca.              8" alloy rims; 31" BFG A/Ts
homepage: http://www.scruz.net/~barneym/barnhome.htm
______________________________________________________________

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Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 07:52:45 -0700
From: Barney McNamara 
Subject: Advice on Radiator: Modine or Stock?
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org, sbever@jeffnet.org

A question came up in reference to warranty. Mine came with a 12 
month guarantee, which meant after 18 months, I was on my own.

Ed wrote:
>Well The Modine is about 1/2 the cost of a stock rad OEM.
>I put one in a few years back in a 89/88 4Runner, (22RE, 5spd,
>AC, PS) and have had no real problems... (OEM was about $400,
>and the Modine was like $180)

I paid $215 for the one I put in my '83

>Some thoughts though...
>The Modine is a"universal" - it has a slush box tranny cooler
>built into the bottom. I just plugged it back up w/ 1/4 NPT
>plugs and dont use it fer nuthin.

That may be the case for later-model versions, but mine had no
tranny cooler.
 
>The bolt holes on the rad may NOT be tapped - tap 'em

Mine has no "meat" for tapping around the bolt holes, just sheet
metal. So the mounting brackets in the truck had studs sticking
out that lined up fine with the holes in the Modine. (Of course
with my body lift, I had to use some extender brackets to lower
the radiator back down in front of the fan.)

>The inlet and outlet hose positions are slightly "off"
>on the Modine. That means that the stock "plastic" shroud
>has to be "modified" in order to work. 

The "METAL" shroud on the '83 fits fine w/o mods behind the Modine.

>The lower outlet in particular is offset and up higher than it is on
>the stock rad.

I wonder if the lower hose is in the wrong place on my Modine, thus
causing stress which resulted in the cracked solder joint on mine?
The hose never seemed tight or stressed, but I did have to put two
clamps on it to keep it from leaking on the radiator end.
______________________________________________________________
Barney McNamara              JENNY - 83 Toyota Short Bed  
( barney@flowpoint.com )     stock 22R motor ; 3" body lift
Santa Cruz, Ca.              8" alloy rims; 31" BFG A/Ts
homepage: http://www.scruz.net/~barneym/barnhome.htm
______________________________________________________________

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Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 01:59:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Toy4x4s@aol.com
Subject: Modine rad.
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

I'll just chime in on my experience with a Modine rad. I bought it at
Champion Auto Parts... LIFETIME warranty. Yes it really is a Modine, not a
cheapo substitute. Price... $145 plus tax. It fits beautiful. the shroud and
everything lined up perfect. Hose inlets are in the same place as stock one.
Mine does not have the transmission cooler thing built into the bottom of
it... The only difference is I have to use a rad cap from a later model. It
now uses the same small one my 88 4Runner V-6 rad does. Oh, by the way, It
was bought and installed 3 years ago in the 85 Toy 4x4 p/u. It's really seen
2 years of use... Since it's almost been a year that the p/u was totalled.
Hey, the rad survived! Well most things did... it broke a motor mount.

This whole deal makes me mad to think about... We took the stock leaky rad to
a "very reputable" shop to be repaired. It was corroded around/near the upper
inlet for the hose. I hear that's a common thing to happen... a weak spot...
So we thought they could unsolder the top tank and fix it from the inside and
then put tank back on... I get a call from te shop right after i got home. I
thought wow, that was fast... It was the boss calling to tell me I need a new
rad! Mine is unrepairable... I said ok... I'll be back to pick it up...
nevermind fixing it, I can live with a small leak awhile longer... not ready
to buy a new rad. Then he tells me they destroyed the top tank when they were
unsoldering it... It is no longer in any shape to be fixed at all... new
tanks aren't avail. MAN, was I pissed!!!  I told him I gave him a working,
slightly leaky rad, and he now has a pile of sh$t for me to pick up, and now
wants to sell me a Modine for $275! I was screaming fraud... malpractice...
Better Business Bureau...whatever came to mind... I planned on spending $60,
and now he wants to make a bit more money off me... When I came down to pick
it up I expressed a few explatives to him and his guy who did it... (yes i
know I'm a lady... but I was M A D!!! He needed to know he wasn't dealing
with the average housewife here doing an errand for the husband...) Told them
I'd go out of my way NOT to reccomend them to any friends who needed rad
work. So that's why i needed a new one immediately. 

The only problem we had during this rad buying expedition was getting the
right one... I bought one from a rad shop and they claimed that it was for my
year of truck etc... It had the tranny cooler thing, and also the small cap.
I was skeptical... Took it home and went to put it in and it wouldn't let the
hood close... Yes all holes lined up, but it was like 1/4 in too tall. So
that's when I went to Champion and they matched the price the other rad shop
had given me on the tall one...

On a side note... I used to work for the local Modine wherehouse in
Sacramento... I was a delivery person. The big majority of rad shops in Sac
use Modine... It is an excellent quality rad. So naturally when i needed one
for my own personal vehicle, Modine was the only thing I looked for...

End of story...
June Bennett
TLCA 2942

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Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 15:08:12 -0400
From: Ed.Wong@astramerck.com
Subject: Radiators...
To: toy4x4@tlca.org

OK -
the OEM radiator lasted for 150K (4 years) till the top seam started
to cut loose. I put in a Modine ($180) because the OEM cost $400.
Now at 250K and three years later - its starting to spit the top 
tank seam (in roughly the same place too... hmmm)
BUT 
Just fer yucks - I asked at the dealer for the OEM price (I was getting
pinion stake nuts)
My jaw dropped - $170 - for OEM

Now the OEM does not have the tranny cooler (for those of us with sticks)
and has the little hooks to hang it from (so  you can install it one 
handed!) and all those things that make life easier - now for even 
less than aftermarket.

The parts guy sez that Yota wanted to get in on the $$ going to
aftermarket parts - so they're doing a trail price lowering to see if
they can capture sales...

YMMV...

EWong

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