Radiator replacement theory

New here. First post. Please let me know what sort of hazing is required.

my 2012 4Runner Limited has rusted through the drivers side lower corner of the radiator (surprise!) so now I have yet another vehicle repair to make. (My back is still recovering from replacing the complete suspension on my 64 Corvette).

sigh.

I don’t see any threads on 5th gen replacement and surprisingly haven’t found any YouTube vids specific to fifth gen. I see some for fourth gen.

does anyone know of a resource that shows how to do it? I have noticed that most people put a trans cooler in (likely rerouting the hoses to the external cooler and leaving internal connections unhooked) but I don’t see much about needed parts or other weird shit I’m pretty sure I’ll find once I’m balls deep in the job.

I actually hate working on cars so I want to knock it out in one afternoon if I can. Local shop quoted $2,500 for the job. That’s a “no” from me dawg.

I’ll get a photo of the rusted area - I can’t tell if it’s the radiator itself or the support (praying it’s just the radiator).

Links?
Parts list?
Advice?
Heckling?

all is appreciated.

 

Can't give you specific install advice but I will say if you don't tow or do heavy rock crawling and you have made it this long, no need for trans cooler at this point. Get OEM radiator.

 

I havent done one on the 4R but if you done one before I'm sure you can do this one.

Go for it.

 

Here is a post on upgrading the radiator
https://trail4runner.com/2020/06/03/csf-high-performance-radiator-install-review-5th-gen-4runner/

I bet it will serve as an outline for an OEM replacement.

Good luck!

 

Any idea if this is part of the radiator or a radiator support?

 

Awesome. Thank you.

 

will consider. I figure if I have the dang thing out, adding a cooler is easy peasy. No towing (these things are seriously under powered. I can’t imagine how people tow with them). One thing that does concern me is the plastic parts of the OEM parts. I bet that’s what is leaking although I don’t know yet.

 

I have lost count of how many times I’ve installed and removed my radiator from my vette. But that’s an old car. These new tangled vehicles have all sorts of stuff and zero room to work. Although this job looks pretty easy. I’m a bit concerned about removing the bumper.

gratuitous Corvette video - built from bare chassis up by yours truly.

https://youtu.be/IJlLSU0eitw?feature=shared

 

That's a crossmember on the frame. See the tow hoops on each side?

For additional pointers see this thread courtesy of @Cowboy59: https://www.4runners.com/threads/install-of-the-csf-all-aluminum-high-performance-radiator.23780/

 

Go to 11:55

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUQB_fbsZMk

 

well shit. That’s not what I wanted to hear. I hope it is removable.

 

nothing that a good grinder/cutter cannot remove

 

supet easy. Did it on my old 2007. Took longer to clean up the mess than do the install.

 

Oof. I looked a bit closer. I don’t think the rust is too deep. I’m going to take a wire brush to it once I set the radiator out and go from there.

ordered the parts today. Went with Koyorad $159 from RockAuto. Replacing the headlight assemblies while I’m at it. With extra fasteners and coolant I’ll have about $430 in it. Quite a bit less than the $3k a local shop estimated.

I’m a musician and had a packed house last night so that paid for the repair three times over.

thanks for all the help. I really dig this vehicle. I traded a 2004 Corvette for it. Huge change! It feels like a giant under powered boat.

I’m sure I’ll be doing more to it.

 

You be fine. New cars just got more shit in the way.

 

Woof what a PITA.

Got the radiator out today. Replaced headlights and hit the rust with wire wheel then Corroseal.

broke a few bolts but all in old radiator.

need new hoses. Did a complete flush

now I have to figure out how to put it back together.

also playing fastener roulette.

still need to install radiator. Took a lot longer than I thought. So far I’m in $500 with new lights. Includes coolant.

 

nice wor! You had to take the whole front end out to pull the radiator?

 

Ouch.

 

Welcome to the forum from Wisconsin!

Nothing helpful to add, but nice Corvette! What's under the hood? The gurgle reminds me of the 383's in an awesome boat I got a ride in a few years ago.

 

Wow.