Radiator replacement for a '90 Pickup?
Jan 4, 2011 | 02:53 AM
#1
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Radiator replacement for a '90 Pickup?
Hey everyone. New here and I'm really excited about finally having a reason to join. I was gifted a 1990 toyota pickup and I was pretty happy with it until I discovered that my radiator was leaking.
What do you guys recommend for a replacement? I can't really pay anymore than $120 and I'd be installing it with some help from a friend, so anything that needs modding to fit isn't going to cut it.
I searched here for about a month before asking but my overflow reservoir is close to being bone dry and I'm somewhat desperate now.
OH, and just another question while I have your attention. I want to at least fill my reservoir up so I don't risk running completely out of coolant but I'm not sure what to fill it up with. It has reddish coolant in it now and I'm a little unsure if it'd be fine to pour in some green PEAK antifreeze. Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks a million!
What do you guys recommend for a replacement? I can't really pay anymore than $120 and I'd be installing it with some help from a friend, so anything that needs modding to fit isn't going to cut it.
I searched here for about a month before asking but my overflow reservoir is close to being bone dry and I'm somewhat desperate now.
OH, and just another question while I have your attention. I want to at least fill my reservoir up so I don't risk running completely out of coolant but I'm not sure what to fill it up with. It has reddish coolant in it now and I'm a little unsure if it'd be fine to pour in some green PEAK antifreeze. Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks a million!
Jan 4, 2011 | 03:06 AM
#2
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From: TENN Native Languishing in Virginia
DO NOT put in green. Go to Toyota stealership & pay the $$ for Toyota Red. You won't be sorry.
Here's a link to the replacement I used; works perfectly & reasonable price:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...d-pics-193478/
Here's a link to the replacement I used; works perfectly & reasonable price:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...d-pics-193478/
Last edited by TNRabbit; Jan 4, 2011 at 03:08 AM.
Jan 4, 2011 | 03:10 AM
#3
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From: middle of no where Alaska
Well, if you really cant afford anymore, then go to a junk yard and get a radiator. Cant see it being more than $50. But, you run the risk of it leaking itself. I got a radiator for my pick-up from NAPA for $150. But then add the cost of coolant...Still should be under $170.
Reddish is either going to be rust or TOYOTA coolant. TOYOTA coolant is red in color. A gallon from the dealership here is like $25 or something. Im sure its a little cheaper where you live. You really SHOULDNT mix different brands/types/colors of coolant, but in a pinch its "okay". I would not skimp. I would get Toyota coolant.
Good luck and welcome here
BTW, is it a 22re or a 3vze?
Reddish is either going to be rust or TOYOTA coolant. TOYOTA coolant is red in color. A gallon from the dealership here is like $25 or something. Im sure its a little cheaper where you live. You really SHOULDNT mix different brands/types/colors of coolant, but in a pinch its "okay". I would not skimp. I would get Toyota coolant.
Good luck and welcome here
BTW, is it a 22re or a 3vze?
Jan 4, 2011 | 03:13 AM
#4
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northeast Pennsylvania
hiya and welcome.
where are you from? put it in your avatar area and put your vehicle info in your "sig".
likewise (and this post doesn't count so much) post up what vehicle / engine and more likely you can get some specific help.
with that out of the way, I replaced the radiator in my 92 truck 22re with a SPECTRA from JcWhitney (also found at Autozone but more expensive but they said that they wold price match........not sure that's their policy or just because I know the manager....but that was after I ordered it). on my son's 88 4runner w/ 3vze motor also ordered a SPECTRA.
with the one for my 22re I found that it sits up slightly higher and the cap was hitting the innards of the hood.....easily remedied with some relief cuts on the supports of the hood and no issues since then.
as far as what coolant??? spend the $$$$$ and use Toyota RED....not pink, not any other.....Red is what's used from the factory, red is what you should use too. kinda pricey at about $29 per gallon, but it's worth my money. debate may occur, but that's what I did.
replace all hoses and do a thermostat already while you are freshening up......flush your system.....get out all the crap.......what I did was flush it and also ran just plain water for a while to circulate and flushed that out too. when using toyota red, thin it to specs (about 50/50) with distilled water.
where are you from? put it in your avatar area and put your vehicle info in your "sig".
likewise (and this post doesn't count so much) post up what vehicle / engine and more likely you can get some specific help.
with that out of the way, I replaced the radiator in my 92 truck 22re with a SPECTRA from JcWhitney (also found at Autozone but more expensive but they said that they wold price match........not sure that's their policy or just because I know the manager....but that was after I ordered it). on my son's 88 4runner w/ 3vze motor also ordered a SPECTRA.
with the one for my 22re I found that it sits up slightly higher and the cap was hitting the innards of the hood.....easily remedied with some relief cuts on the supports of the hood and no issues since then.
as far as what coolant??? spend the $$$$$ and use Toyota RED....not pink, not any other.....Red is what's used from the factory, red is what you should use too. kinda pricey at about $29 per gallon, but it's worth my money. debate may occur, but that's what I did.
replace all hoses and do a thermostat already while you are freshening up......flush your system.....get out all the crap.......what I did was flush it and also ran just plain water for a while to circulate and flushed that out too. when using toyota red, thin it to specs (about 50/50) with distilled water.
Last edited by 92 TOY; Jan 4, 2011 at 03:34 AM.
Jan 4, 2011 | 04:24 AM
#5
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From: Seattle
Jan 4, 2011 | 04:30 AM
#6
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hiya and welcome.
where are you from? put it in your avatar area and put your vehicle info in your "sig".
likewise (and this post doesn't count so much) post up what vehicle / engine and more likely you can get some specific help.
with that out of the way, I replaced the radiator in my 92 truck 22re with a SPECTRA from JcWhitney (also found at Autozone but more expensive but they said that they wold price match........not sure that's their policy or just because I know the manager....but that was after I ordered it). on my son's 88 4runner w/ 3vze motor also ordered a SPECTRA.
with the one for my 22re I found that it sits up slightly higher and the cap was hitting the innards of the hood.....easily remedied with some relief cuts on the supports of the hood and no issues since then.
as far as what coolant??? spend the $$$$$ and use Toyota RED....not pink, not any other.....Red is what's used from the factory, red is what you should use too. kinda pricey at about $29 per gallon, but it's worth my money. debate may occur, but that's what I did.
replace all hoses and do a thermostat already while you are freshening up......flush your system.....get out all the crap.......what I did was flush it and also ran just plain water for a while to circulate and flushed that out too. when using toyota red, thin it to specs (about 50/50) with distilled water.
where are you from? put it in your avatar area and put your vehicle info in your "sig".
likewise (and this post doesn't count so much) post up what vehicle / engine and more likely you can get some specific help.
with that out of the way, I replaced the radiator in my 92 truck 22re with a SPECTRA from JcWhitney (also found at Autozone but more expensive but they said that they wold price match........not sure that's their policy or just because I know the manager....but that was after I ordered it). on my son's 88 4runner w/ 3vze motor also ordered a SPECTRA.
with the one for my 22re I found that it sits up slightly higher and the cap was hitting the innards of the hood.....easily remedied with some relief cuts on the supports of the hood and no issues since then.
as far as what coolant??? spend the $$$$$ and use Toyota RED....not pink, not any other.....Red is what's used from the factory, red is what you should use too. kinda pricey at about $29 per gallon, but it's worth my money. debate may occur, but that's what I did.
replace all hoses and do a thermostat already while you are freshening up......flush your system.....get out all the crap.......what I did was flush it and also ran just plain water for a while to circulate and flushed that out too. when using toyota red, thin it to specs (about 50/50) with distilled water.
Thanks for the help. I'm currently considering a weld job over the leaky bit (it's a pinhole leak) to buy me some time and possibly give me room to save for a better radiator. It leaks a few drops a trip at most but it's been two and a half months and the coolant level in the reservoir was low to begin with.
And beyond welding the rad or jb welding it, no other repairs will be tried. I don't trust putting stuff in the radiator itself (ex. Eggs, peppers, stopleak).
Jan 4, 2011 | 05:01 AM
#7
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northeast Pennsylvania
I'm currently on my phone but I'll update my info soon. It's a 22RE 4 cyl w/ a 4 speed manual transmission. I'm currently in SoCali.
Thanks for the help. I'm currently considering a weld job over the leaky bit (it's a pinhole leak) to buy me some time and possibly give me room to save for a better radiator. It leaks a few drops a trip at most but it's been two and a half months and the coolant level in the reservoir was low to begin with.
And beyond welding the rad or jb welding it, no other repairs will be tried. I don't trust putting stuff in the radiator itself (ex. Eggs, peppers, stopleak).
Thanks for the help. I'm currently considering a weld job over the leaky bit (it's a pinhole leak) to buy me some time and possibly give me room to save for a better radiator. It leaks a few drops a trip at most but it's been two and a half months and the coolant level in the reservoir was low to begin with.
And beyond welding the rad or jb welding it, no other repairs will be tried. I don't trust putting stuff in the radiator itself (ex. Eggs, peppers, stopleak).
it probably will cost less than $150 for new radiator / hoses / thermostat and well worth the peace of mind.
keep us posted
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Jan 4, 2011 | 05:02 AM
#8
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Leadville Colorado
You can get a 2 row CSF from radiatorbarn.com. It's all metal, I put one in my 90 a few months ago, after having leaking issues with 2 consecutive aluminum/plastic ones in 4 months. I have owned these trucks for years and just use the Prestone Green coolant, but I'm sure the Toyota coolant won't hurt, it will just be more expensive.
Jan 4, 2011 | 10:39 AM
#11
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From: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Maybe where you are wabbit around here it is to expensive to do any radiators unless they come out of Heavy Equipment or Road Trucks etc.
Plus you are dealing with a 20 year old radiator or so It just wasn`t worth it and having one re cored was even more so. Cheaper to replace with new I went with Radiator Barn I can`t complain.
Could very well be the salt belt that kills these things up here
Plus you are dealing with a 20 year old radiator or so It just wasn`t worth it and having one re cored was even more so. Cheaper to replace with new I went with Radiator Barn I can`t complain.
Could very well be the salt belt that kills these things up here
Jan 4, 2011 | 12:30 PM
#12
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Any tips with the weld/jb weld approach? I've read that people drain the radiator to just below the leak. I know how to drain but don't know when the coolant would be under the leak without doing a complete drain (and I wouldn't want to drain it again w/ the new rad). Does it really matter?
Jan 4, 2011 | 01:51 PM
#13
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i JB welded mine when i damn near cracked it in half hahaha(good story) and i just waited till the rad was cool then mixed it up perfect 50/50, slaped it on, waited over night and it was good for 3 months untill i broke a rad mount and it fell into the fan. now i got a real shiney one 
....oh ya if you do replace your rad make sure to buy a new rad cap...i found out the hard way that that little sucker does a lot morue than i thought
....oh ya if you do replace your rad make sure to buy a new rad cap...i found out the hard way that that little sucker does a lot morue than i thought
Jan 4, 2011 | 07:29 PM
#14
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From: southeast Ohio
I picked up a real nice 2 row all aluminum one from Eprey for $110 shipped. I just didn't like the $130 plastic/metal ones that the local parts store wanted. So far it has been great. Bolted in without a hitch, all the bolt holes lined up great. I have had no issues so far.
Jan 4, 2011 | 08:09 PM
#15
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I picked up a real nice 2 row all aluminum one from Eprey for $110 shipped. I just didn't like the $130 plastic/metal ones that the local parts store wanted. So far it has been great. Bolted in without a hitch, all the bolt holes lined up great. I have had no issues so far.
Jan 5, 2011 | 02:40 AM
#17
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-...ries#vi-ilComp
Is this the rad you bought? I looked it up and this is all I found for pickups. It's half the price but it doesn't look anything like my stock radiator. The rad in my car has the fill cap in the center.
Thanks for the help once again.
Is this the rad you bought? I looked it up and this is all I found for pickups. It's half the price but it doesn't look anything like my stock radiator. The rad in my car has the fill cap in the center.
Thanks for the help once again.
Jan 5, 2011 | 04:56 AM
#18
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From: southeast Ohio
No that one is plastic and aluminum core, I bought this one (link below), the only difference was that the cap is on the right side now and not the middle, the top left hose is at a small angle but I have had no issues with flow, if anything my truck runs cooler now!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Jan 10, 2011 | 01:48 AM
#19
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Right now I'm looking at the one I linked before:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-2...item2eb1770d70
Right now I just need to get anything that'll swap nicely and get me back on the road. This one's cheaper than the all-aluminum one but is plastic really that bad?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-2...item2eb1770d70
Right now I just need to get anything that'll swap nicely and get me back on the road. This one's cheaper than the all-aluminum one but is plastic really that bad?
Jan 10, 2011 | 02:26 AM
#20
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From: southeast Ohio
I don't know if plastic is bad, I guess it all depends on what you plan on doing with your yota (DD, mud-toy, rock beast) I just know that when I was searching on here several post said that within 3 months they had to replace the plastic ones. I guess if you just need a cost effective way to get back on the road this is fine, I've not had any problems with mine so far and I didn't want to run the risk of having to change it beside the road in sub-zero temps.
