Where to get a copper/brass radiator for '96 Prado?

[GreyGhost]

I have no overheating worries with my series 90 Prado, but as I will be doing some long tours around the South Island, plus a wee bit of 4wd work (nothing gnarly, just forest trails, etc mainly), I would like to upgrade the radiator from the standard Toyota model to something with a better cooling performance.
I figure this will also help keep the auto trans cooler running a lower temp too (?).
Summer temps in South Island can easily be into mid 30's, and I don't really want to crack a head when I can easily sort out better cooling performance now, before we hit the road.
I would like a 'proper' radiator made of copper with brass tanks.
Where do you guys get them from?
Or, do you have a better solution?
Thanks for any help/info.

[ChurchurDan]

Fit a separate trans cooler and get your factory radiator checked and cleaned out if needed. Unless you are towing a heavy load or doing prolonged climbs the factory radiator should do the job.
Another thing to think about is that aluminum is more thermally efficient than copper so it dissipates heat`better, but do be wary of the cheap Chinese made alloy radiators.

[derk]

it sounds like nothings wrong with the truck and you just want a bit of insurance against a cracked 1kz head, an egt gauge and learning to drive off it would give you better results

[tweake]

http://www.silverdaleradiators.co.nz/ used to sell the brass radiators. however i have heard of issues with them. brass is harder to manufacture with.

gauges help. a decent water and egt gauge with an alarm.
a decent exhaust to help keep egt's down.

[Smurf]

A hi flow lower temperature thermostat may be an idea if you are concerned, you can also modify the viscous fan hub to engage earlier too, well I think you can with the 1KZ, definitely can with the earlier 2L motor.
Nothing wrong with going for a new radiator but if your radiator is in good order, no damaged fins etc. then a clean at a radiator shop will be a cheaper option. recoring your radiator may also be cheaper than buying new, hat way you can also get a bigger core fitted to yours.
A separate trans cooler will also help with lowering engine water temperatures as currently your transmission cooler is in the bottom tank of your radiator, so heat goes from your trans to the engine cooling system.
Removing or blocking off the EGR system if fitted also helps lower engine temperatures and can give a bit more power.

[stu_71]

I did this recently. Same engine as yours. Just wanted some piece of mind especially as I started towing.

Did the mods as mentioned above. Flushed it many times (a whole heap of brown shit is hidden in the lines going to the rear passenger heater if you have one of those), Rad from Fenix Radiators in chch, they were awesome to deal with, new 76 deg thermostat, egr mod and new step auto trans cooler (Davis Craig from BNT).

But the biggest thing I found was installing a EGR temp gauge. My thread on installing this is on OE somewhere. Utterly amazing how that right foot of yours affects the temperature. It totally changes the way you drive. Highly recommended!

Found it. viewtopic.php?f=46&t=42494&p=436062#p436062

[GreyGhost]

Thanks guys.
I just wanted peace of mind really for those hot Summer days and slowly crawling along uphill.
Since starting this thread I have had a wee play.
Whipped off the fan and viscous hub.
I have the standard 7 blade fan, and have read that an 8 blade Cruiser fan will fit with some mods to the fan shroud, or a Hi Lux 10 blade will fit too (is either of these true, and is it worthwhile doing?).
May have a look at either option.
Plus I have stripped the viscous hub apart (just because I can!). Will try BNT or Toyota tomorrow to see about some new silicon (heavier grade...6000 or 10000).
My own radiator seems sound, but I am happy to upgrade it and then recover some costs by on-selling my one.
Shouldn't work out too dear then.
I'll check out your other suggested mods too.

[stu_71]

I didn't bother with the fan. Not an issue at moment

[floatingkiwi]

Call silverdale radiators and they'll tell you what diff options you can go for . They're really good I find.

[GreyGhost]

Just a quick update.
I whipped off the viscous fan hub to check it out, and do the oil change method I've read about on here.
Surprise, surprise...no oil inside (well, there was less than 1/4 teaspoon but that's as near enough to nothing that it doesn't matter).
Finally tracked down some 10000 grade silicone oil, and it should arrive tomorrow.
Also putting in a good temperature gauge as the Toyota ones are fairly woeful, and will see how things go after that.

[Smurf]

Just a quick update.
I whipped off the viscous fan hub to check it out, and do the oil change method I've read about on here.
Surprise, surprise...no oil inside (well, there was less than 1/4 teaspoon but that's as near enough to nothing that it doesn't matter).
Finally tracked down some 10000 grade silicone oil, and it should arrive tomorrow.
Also putting in a good temperature gauge as the Toyota ones are fairly woeful, and will see how things go after that.

Where did you end up going for the oil?

[GreyGhost]

http://topshelf-rc.co.nz/catalog/index.php

Tried a heap of others online, but they either didn't have it or only had 1 bottle (needs 2).
Local folks in Richmond didn't have any, so it turned out to be a bit of a mission to find it in NZ.
That said, I see that I can easily get the 15000 and even 300000 stuff.
Wow, that would have some body to it.

Direct link here

http://topshelf-rc.co.nz/catalog/advanc ... il&x=6&y=5