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ALL Aluminum radiator

Mb30sdl

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
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Raleigh area NC
Well couple of days ago T developed radiator leak (105K). I searched threads but don't see any with ALL aluminum (top and bottom) tanks radiators. I don't feel like I want to do this again for another 100+K so I decided to replace ALL coolant hoses, water pump, thermostat, separate trans. cooler and ALL ALUMINUM (as thick as I can fit) radiator.

So does any one knows any radiators that fit H3T or do have to custom make one? OEM and aftermarket range from $150+ so it may be wiser to invest that money into custom with E-fan or 2 maybe to gain 2hp with 3.7L?
 
MaxPF

MaxPF

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I know all aluminum radiators are all the rage, but don't expect them to last. Todd is on his second all-aluminum radiator in his S-10 (which is strictly a street driver). Worsem he is on his second all-aluminum radiator in his Jeep, and the current (second) one has developed a leak (which is how they fail). These radiators represent two different manufacturers (one being Ron Davis). Life expectancy in the Jeep seems to be 1-2 years. I would stick with an OE style radiator. A radiator shop can probably get you a better deal than the dealer. I picked up my 2-row Visteon (plastic tanks, from a late 90's 454 Chevy truck app) for $300 from a local radiator wholesaler. For the price of a single all-aluminum radiator I can afford to replace it three times. Of course, I have had it for 4 or 5 years and it has been trouble free ;)
 
Mb30sdl

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
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But OEMs on H3 has tendency to leak into transm.
i want to get one due to an easy repair vs. replacement.

I get all parts at wholesale prices and almost free labor, just a benefit of owning an auto shop.
 
Zach

Zach

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Coolant level would be low for one. And check the trans dip stick, it would look kinda like a milshake
 
B

Best4x4

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Wouldn't a simple fix be to bypass the OEM trans cooler and just install an aftermarket in front if the OEM radiator? I've owned a lot of auto 4x4's with built in trans coolers in the radiators and none of them failed like that. Weird the H3 would suffer from that unless the OEM radiator is just made that cheaply..
 
Bigunit

Bigunit

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Right away! If you feel the tranny slipping, it's too late. My wife drove hers to work (12 mi.) and her tranny was done. Luckily the motor was ok but it was a close call. If you see a puddle of coolant mixed with oil on your garage floor, you better not drive it until you can pinpoint where it's dripping from. Zack described the signs very well.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapataint
 
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Zach

Zach

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Best4x4 said:
Wouldn't a simple fix be to bypass the OEM trans cooler and just install an aftermarket in front if the OEM radiator? I've owned a lot of auto 4x4's with built in trans coolers in the radiators and none of them failed like that. Weird the H3 would suffer from that unless the OEM radiator is just made that cheaply..
Click to expand...

There is a thread about switching to an external cooler for the 3's. if I had a 3 I would do the mod. Have never seen it in the 2's although I did have a leak at trans side. Replaced the radiator and no problems. The plastic tanks suck. But, what they have gone to. I remember years ago sending out a radiator and rod it out. That is none existent now pretty much. Just replace it
 
Zach

Zach

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Bigunit said:
Right away! If you feel the tranny slipping, it's too late. My wife drove hers to work (12 mi.) and her tranny was done. Luckily the motor was ok but it was a close call. If you see a puddle of coolant mixed with oil on your garage floor, you better not drive it until you can pinpoint where it's dripping from. Zack described the signs very well.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapataint
Click to expand...

Once it happens, you will not notice it until its to late. Unless you check the level of coolant and trans dip stick every day. Even then, could have happened on the last drive home. Once the coolant goes into the trans, it's gone. Like Bigunit said 12 miles. Should be a TSB on it but there isn't. When we've had them in the shop, replaced trans, rad and all hoses.
When I worked at a Hummer dealership, never did an engine on a 3 let alone on a 2. Lots of heads on 3's but pretty reliable engines. And with the radiator letting go, it's always trans side from what I've seen
 
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amrg

amrg

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If an electric fan is installed is there still room to put a trans cooler below it? My truck came with two fans infront of the rad so im guessing thats the only place I have left to put one. Not sure about clearance?
 
Mb30sdl

Mb30sdl

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On mine there is plenty of room in front of radiator.

Talking to "Ron Davis" radiators they advice against installing e-fans (less airflow) compear to mech. fan. Doesn't make any sense to me <2007 all H2 had mech. fan, >2008 2 e-fans?

Second, they want me to forget about by-passing transm cooler in radiator. Not to over cool transmission? My f350 transm temp is at operating temp when coolant is still laying flat.

They got me confused now.
 
B

Best4x4

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I have a PCM of NC e-fan on my H3 Alpha now, and of coarse it isn't summer, but I think it's going to do a better job of regulating the heat vs the OEM clutch fan. It pulls a lot of air and when I was down in FL for vacation in early December it was around 87F and my scangauge II showed 210-215F at the hottest while in the famous Disney World stop n go traffic, but once the e-fan would cycle on the temps would quickly drop to 195F. I was cruising between 75-80MPH on the way back and my temps never got above 205-210F while driving. I know with my old setup the gauge would certainly crawl above half, but with the e-fan it stays at halfway. I can't tell you what the temps were because I didn't have the scangauge II installed in the H3 yet, but I'd imagine 215-225 for sure.

I come from Range Rovers and Jeeps mainly, but on all the Jeeps with auto's they left the OEM cooler in place and ran an aux cooler for the most part, but some just ran the aux trans cooler and placed it between the HVAC condenser and radiator, and with gauges on their rigs they didn't notice any issues with the transmissions taking longer to warm up. Jeeps have a 195 thermostat so they warm up quickly like my H3 Alpha so I may try just bypassing the OEM setup since it's known to fail, or see about a high quality normally priced aluminum replacement vs those over 500.00 units... Drake Off Road sells a beauty of an aluminum radiator for the TJ/LJ and I'm honestly curious to email them and ask if they'd consider making a unit for the H3. It's a small radiator and I don't see why it should cost over 500.00 for an aluminum one.

Also which units are failing?? OEM or aftermarket?? I honestly can't see both an OEM and aftermarket failing in the same way. I mean different assembly, slightly different design internally, so you'd think it would be just one or the other failing. I know that the aftermarket radiator I put in my 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a completely different configuration for the internal trans cooler. Rest of the radiator looked identical, but the trans cooler config was night and day vs the OEM setup.

We need to get everyone's info on the units that failed OEM vs Aftermarket and compare them.
 
6pack

6pack

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Eldersburg, MD
amrg said:
If an electric fan is installed is there still room to put a trans cooler below it? My truck came with two fans infront of the rad so im guessing thats the only place I have left to put one. Not sure about clearance?
Click to expand...

There is no room below on the engine side, the fan shroud mounts to the bottom mounting tabs that the OEM shroud uses. The fan does not take up the whole shroud though, there is room on the driver's side if you want to look into modifying the shroud.

I have a Ron Davis radiator and the PCMforless fan. The radiator has been in for a little over a year (stock one failed at the top seam) with about 25k miles on it and it has not been any problem. The fan went in at the beginning of last summer and has about 15k miles on it. I did have some hot days when I was driving the highways in the mountains of western MD where the fan had trouble keeping up with the heat and load. But it does pull the temps back to stock ranges fairly quickly. During normal use and temps, it kicks on around 210-215 and pulls it back to 190-195. I would like it to work better though for those high temps, heavy load days. Of course, the supercharger is probably heating things up more than a stock engine. There is some room on the drivers side of the shroud and I will probably look into adding a second small fan there.
 
Mb30sdl

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
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Raleigh area NC
So I was looking into E-fan again and my bros 2005 Chevy Silverado 5.3 has 2 e-fans mounted to radiator. Ill check if his fan/shroud assy. will fit H3 radiator. I can wire one with A/C and bypass for overheating, second will be for operating temp.
 
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