I'm in the middle of swapping a CSF 2314 radiator into my '94 XtraCab 22RE manual in place of the no-name eBay all-aluminum 3-core that started leaking after ~5 years.

While I've got the rad out, I'm looking to seal up the airflow between the rad and the A/C condenser so that the stock mechanical fan and shroud will draw more air across the condenser (rather than some air pulling from around it).

Parts diagrams such as the ones on PartSOUQ and Amayama depict "packing" blocks in and around the condenser area. Of my 3 old 4x4 22RE Toyotas, none of them have any of this foam, and I've never actually seen this OEM foam with my own eyes or even pics online of it.

Did they all come with these foam pieces when new and they all just withered away without a trace over the decades? Did they come with a peel-off adhesive backing on one side to stick 'em in place?

I'm trying to work out where they were supposed to be, as the diagram's a bit nebulous. No mention of them in the factory service manual either.

B - ???
C - Presumably fills in the space right on top of the condenser, underneath the top of the core support (mashing against the wiring harness bundle that routes under the core support).
D - ???
E - ???
F - These seem self-explanatory. Surely these 2 go behind the vertical side frame portions of the condenser, pushing against where the passenger and driver "walls" overlap behind the condenser about an inch.
G - Perhaps this piece goes in that little dip on the top of the condenser, where it's sandwiched between the condenser and C on top of it?

I'm thinking B, D, and E might stuff into the lower core support channel, which has a divider on each side. I'll put up a pic of mine.

Also, what are those "PLATE, CONDENSER NO. 1" things? I can't even make out what it's showing there. If they're symmetrical between LH and RH versions, maybe they're like some origami shape? Anybody got a pic of one? I've google'd all 4 part #s and no images seem to exist for any of them other than the diagram depictions.

 

I've had an 86, 87 and 88 truck with 22RE and A/C from the factory, brand new from the dealership and never saw any foam blocking. I bought a factory A/C kit for an 87 2wd truck and it did not come with any either. My son had a 91 Std cab and a 93 Xtra Cab and there was no foam blocks but he was not the original owner.

Just get some proper foam type and make something. I live in AZ and the A/C works fine without the foam. I can see why you would want to try it though. Cooling the engine is tougher here and a priority for me. Looking at the pics, it seems the foam would work ok on the sides but maybe block some airflow for either the rad or the condenser across the top and bottom when you wedge it in between the two.

I "think" the PLATE you are asking about is a mounting bracket on the passenger side of the OEM condenser.

I'm still driving an 86 Xtra Cab pickup with a mix of Toyota parts for the A/C. I have a 3 row brass radiator for the 22RE but I swapped in a 3.4 so I have the 3.4 A/C compressor. The 3.4 fan is bigger than my radiator so I have a 3.0 fan attached to the 3.4 fan clutch. I still have the 86 heater box and A/C unit inside the cab but I use the A/C amplifier for the 3.4. I had the original 22RE condenser but I just switched to a newer style replacement that is parallel flow to try it out. The original serpentine condenser and the newer style both work fine. The newer style parallel flow one does drop high side pressure a bit.

If I remember tomorrow, I can grab the original condenser from the box and take a pic of what I think that bracket is if you need it.

Scott in AZ.

 

Good to hear your experience with OEM foam block sightings has been right in line with mine.

That's the plan. I ordered an 8 pack of 12"x12" self-adhesive neoprene EPDM foam, 0.8" thick, for $24 shipped on eBay.

Does your A/C still work even when sitting still, especially in the sun? Mine diminishes really hard when stationary. Granted, I think the all-aluminum eBay 3-core radiator that I just removed had a larger gap up at the top between the rad tank and the core support. I know some of the radiators for these trucks have brackets that tilt them back a bit, but that one seemed really leaned back making that gap worse. Maybe the foam will help there, especially if perhaps this new CSF 2314 radiator sits with less of a gap up there.

Fortunately I've had no overheating issues, even with steep grades to get a YZ125 and a YZ250 up to Sand Mountain motocross. It kinda seems like the vertical "F" foam blocks on the sides are just blocking off a dead-end, but I'm gonna run foam in those spaces as well anyway.


Only on the passenger side? What about the driver side PLATE, CONDENSER? I'm gonna look at my condenser's mounts again here shortly.

Got a part number for that parallel flow condenser? I'm about to spray some Simple Green Condenser/Coil Cleaner on the back side of my still-installed, original 1994 serpentine A/C condenser just in case that might help a bit, but from what I've heard, parallel flow style condensers are quite a lot more efficient. Would be nice if there's a drop-in replacement parallel flow condenser for my '94 (9/1993 production date) that has the same R12 style block connections at the inlet & outlet.

It's a shame the stock electric condenser fan for the '90-'95 4Runners isn't a bolt-on mod, cause that'd be a really nice addition. Ironically, even recent Tacomas (3rd gen, '16-'23) only came with mechanical fans in the US, but owners figured out that, for whatever reason, Toyota equipped Mexican-market 3rd gen Tacomas were equipped with an electric fan in front of the condenser, and halfway through that generation, US dealers received a TSB about adding the fan to US Tacos if the owner complained of diminished A/C performance on hot days. Wayyy more space behind those enormous grilles compared to ours haha

 

My A/C works well when I'm at a stop and so does my cooling system. I started with an 88 standard cab with a 22RE. It had a 3 row brass radiator and was pretty much stock when I bought it off a friend.

Then I SAS'd it, 35's, dual cases, 5.29 gears and the A/C and cooling system was still good. Then I went with a 3.4 V6, kept the same radiator, I fabricated a shroud and ran a fan from a 3.0 V6. The A/C system was 3.4 compressor and A/C amplifier and all the rest was the original 88 22RE A/C parts. Still no over heating and the A/C was good as always. It's been R134A for a long time.

Now, I'm building an 86 Xtra Cab and all the parts from the 88 are in this truck now. It's not done but it runs and I've driven it around the neighborhood a few times.

I think the parallel flow condenser I am using is from Rock Auto. I bought it two years ago so not positive. I'm pretty sure it's OSC part number 3931. It's "supposed " to be a direct replacement but it does mount a bit different. I had to do some tweaks to get it to fit but nothing major. I'm going to try to post some pics from my build thread so you have an idea.

 

IDK what's going on with my post here. It deletes most of it??

 

I'll try again. I found a parallel flow condenser listed for your truck. Agility Part # 7013932

 

And they list 4 different electric condenser fans.

 

Here's a few pics of my OEM 84-88 condenser.

 

That 7013932 part number still brought up serpentine style condensers for me, but on eBay, some of the related items were showing parallel-flow condensers with different part numbers, so it ultimately lead me to a PF replacement! Thanks man! One of the reviews for one of the ones on eBay says it didn't fit his '94 4x4 pickup though, so that's a bit concerning.







Can't help but wonder if that dude's '94 was a build date after 1/1994 and that caused the incompatibility, or maybe something to do with dealer-installed A/C vs. factory-installed A/C since, from what I think I've read, the connection fittings were dreadfully all different between the 2.

Here's my current presumably-original condenser for reference. Block-style fitting at the inlet (passenger side), threaded coupling fitting at the outlet (driver side).

 

I looked at Rock Auto and found the parallel flow condenser for a 94 and the 4 different electric condenser fans. When I posted a link all my text dropped off my post?? Anyway, good luck with your truck.

 

All good man. Not sure what's happening with the forum glitching out your posts, but I definitely appreciate the help.

I think the confusion comes from the fact that RockAuto shows a pic of a serpentine style condenser for that Agility 7013932, but then when clicking the "Info" button, it lists it as being parallel-flow construction. Same story with the 2 GPD branded condensers they list.

 

There's been a "mistake" in all the parts store databases for probably decades regarding the electric condenser fans. This goes for RockAuto, Oreillys, AutoZone, Advance, Napa, etc.

They all list one or more electric fans as fitting the '90-'95 4Runners and '89-'95 pickups (sometimes they years float around a bit, but they're always pretty centered on this same generation of pickup/4Runner).

Truth is, only the 4Runners ever could come equipped stock with an e-fan for the condenser. The center, vertical support right where the hood latch resides is different between pickup and the 4Runner such that the 4R version has a curved edge along its passenger side to clear the fan. The bottom bar of the core support is different too, and I think they're all stamped with "PU" or "4R" accordingly.

This guy welded nuts to his core support to make the fan fit, and he wired it up using a snap disc thermo switch glued to his radiator along with the factory e-fan harness that clips onto the side of the fuse box. Not sure about the normal factory 4R fan wiring but I think either the refrigerant pressure sensor in the evaporator box is different (having an extra high pressure signal to kick the fan on high speed) or perhaps there's an extra pressure sensor on the short line between the condenser and the receiver.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/ac-condenser-fan-upgrade-from-a-90-95-4runner-and-22re-aluminum-radiator.1267094/

 

Unfortunately we have to become detectives before buying parts for these older vehicles. I can tell you have been working on this case for a while. Sounds like you have a plan. Post up your solution when you git'r done.

My build thread is on that forum you linked. I remember that thread now that I went back to look. I have no room for an electric fan so I'm glad I don't "need it". I'm kind of surprised I don't have cooling issues with a 3.4 and a 22RE radiator. (With a PS cooler and A/C condenser in front of it) I wonder if it's because I have no fender wells anymore. Most of the air off the fan blows out the wheel wells.

 

Yeah that's really impressive that the 5VZ engine works so well thermally, despite making like double the power & torque of a 22RE. And in your case, operating in essentially the hottest place in the USA, while using a radiator meant for the far-weaker 22RE! Given the high-reliability reputation of the almighty 3rd-gen 4Runners, no doubt the 3.4 is a great engine design, and sounds like your 3.4's in tip-top shape.

You're absolutely right about the parts detectives part. I've been daily driving this '94 XtraCab for 10.5 years now, and it'd be really sweet to make some decent improvement in the A/C department.

Over the weekend, I cleaned up my OEM fan shroud and lined its edges with thin weatherstripping foam, along with the edges of the new CSF 2314 radiator where the shroud meets it so that it's much more sealed off (the shroud doesn't lay flat against this rad otherwise). I also straightened all the bent fins (there weren't that many) as best as I could with a thin screwdriver, then cleaned it with Simple Green Coil Condenser Cleaner sprayed on both sides, flushing it with water afterwards.

My 8 square feet of 0.8" thick EPDM foam just showed up, so the next task will be to get all the passages between the radiator and the condenser blocked off. Perhaps worth mentioning, I was wrong about those vertical sections along the sides of the condenser (where the OEM "F" foam would be). From holding my flash light up in the engine bay near the sides of the condenser, I could see lots of light getting around the condenser, so that's not a dead-end whatsoever.

Biggest gap to fill will likely be the bottom-front of the radiator, which sits much lower than the bottom of the condenser. And it would sit even lower if I had bought the 1" taller CSF 2306 rather than the 2314 since the extra 1" core height is only at the bottom, placing the bottom rad tank lower. Not sure if I'll have to stack several layers of foam there or if I'll have to come up with some sort of panel to fill that space.

 

@cbh148 , Have you ever had the A/C and heater box out? The evaporators are often almost completely plugged with dirt after all these years. The foam gaskets on all the doors are typically crumbling apart. Same for the foam seals between the plastic duct sections. I've been able to clean and reinstall the evaporators. I got all the foam from Home Depot and Amazon to reseal everything.

 

I've yet to remove either the A/C or the heater box. A year or 2 ago, I removed the blower motor and some of the aft-side screws of the A/C box to split it open just enough to snake around in there with a rubber hose ghetto-taped to my ShopVac hose to suck out as much debris as possible. Also blasted lots of compressed air in there to dislodge some too.

My foam is definitely expired / completely M.I.A. in all of the places I've managed to get my eyes on under the dash, so I guarantee you it's the same story inside for the heater core, evaporator, and baffle doors.

Sooner or later, I'm gonna have to remove the dash for the first time and look inside those boxes. Hopefully I'm not jinxing my heater core (which is likely original 1994) to start leaking, but if there were ever a time for it to begin, it'd be here soon since I flushed it 2 times with some CLR cleaner while I've had the coolant drained to swap radiators over the last 2 weeks. Will definitely re-foam all those items with some durable closed-cell foam whenever I ultimately end up inside.

 

Just happened to run across video footage showing the PLATE, CONDENSER NO. 1 live in the flesh!

Passenger side plate is visible 26 seconds in. You can see how floppy it is at 3:38. Then the driver side is shown at 3:55.

Unfortunately, no sightings of any PACKING foam in the vid.