Subject Application: 96’ Toyota 4runner 3.4 (5vz) with supercharger, big injectors, FIC computer, headers, small pulley, 4.11 gears, 33” tires all working together to produce heat.
Subjects use: chasing/prerunning in desert and daily driving on SoCal stop and go freeways.
Solution(s): GrifinRad.com Griffin Thermal Products radiator #9R-28527-01
Gates lower hose #22120

I found the stock radiator for the Toyota 3.4 5vz v6 to be inefficient in cooling and hangs down too low between the frame rails to mount a sleek bumper with a good approach angle. It’s also cheaply built with plastic tanks and has a history of creating milkshakes if you rout your transmission fluid through it. In my search for something shorter to mount in its place I came across the 2wd version on ebay for under $100. This radiator proved to not cool enough so I either needed to have a custom one built for over a grand or put the 4wd version back in. After adding the typical performance goodies on my freshly rebuilt motor (headers, blower, injectors, ect ect) I didn’t want to take another chance of overheating so I gave Griffin Thermal Products www.griffinrad.com a call since they support many Ultra4 competitors to see if they made a production unit at a reasonable cost.

The unit Griffin sent me was the same depth as the 2wd version 23” but with twice as thick a core 1.5” vs only ¾”, the OEM 4wd version barely measures out to 1” core thickness. Obviously, the thicker the core the greater its fluid capacity and ability to cool. The unit is the exact width as the factory radiator so mounting it was simple, my only hangup was to build a aluminum fan shroud (last one I built using a trashcan from TrueValue so I'm no fab pro).

Side-by-side comparisons: From left to right eBay version of taco 2wd, Griffin, Toyota 4wd version.




As you can see in this picture the overall thickness of the Griffin com paired to the other two is marginal, however the core thickness is much thicker. The 2wd measures out at barely .75", the 4wd just short of 1" and the Griffin's core is a solid 1.5" thick.


Factory OEM 4wd unit measures out to 27" high where the Griffin measures out to 23". Using factory mounting locations the radiator bottom is flush with the bottom of frame rails. The sides of the the Griffin are solid channel so you can determine your own mounting holes therefore the freedom to bump it up or down as you desire. Shroud I bent up and had RaceCo-USA http://raceco-usa.com/ weld for me.




Flush with the frame bottom still allowing a good approach angle for skidplate.



Bottom looking up: ignore the transmission lines that still need to be routed to external cooler.



Hope this helps any of you with cooling issues or those of you building a bumper.


.

 

How many rows is that radiator? The 2nd gen 4runners came with 3 rows radiator. I'm keeping mine.

 

@chaplain was that e-bay radiator from radiator classics? they are supposed to get some all aluminum 2 rows in.then i saw ad for a 3 row. not sure what the difference is. am starting my 22re to 3.4 auto swap. still looking for odds and ends. got my sc and marlin transfer adapter today. can't wait. how much was the griffon?

 

Pretty sure the ebay one I have is from Radiator classic. BTW its for sale.
I still need to get a production price on the Griffin.

 

This radiator doesn't help anyone with a 3.4 swap.

Moving to the proper section.

 

So were you not able to use the stock 3.4 fan shroud with this radiator?

 

Really?

No the stock fan shroud is the same size as the sock radiator, therefore it too hung to low. You could hack the bottom of that shroud off to fit, but that would defeat the purpose of a shroud unless you sealed it up.

 

more importantly how much?

 

The part number is 9R-28527-01, the price is 395.00 each. Per
Alan DiUmberto
Director of Sales
Griffin Thermal Products
800 RACE RAD