Radiator replacement

Radiator, thermostat, water pump, antifreeze, etc.
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safari2000
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Radiator replacement

Post by safari2000 »

My radiator has started to leak pretty severely at higher temps. I am planning on pulling it out this weekend. My questions are:

Has anyone else done this on a 2000 gen and have tips?

Is it worth trying to get it repaired or should I just put in a new one?

On my 2000 are the oil lines and the transmission lines the only things I have to worry about, or does the A/C run through there?

150k mi

thanks
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CaptSquid
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by CaptSquid »

Unless you have a dunk tank and a means of pressurizing the radiator, it's cheaper to get a replacement rad.
Mike, Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
98 AWD Stro LS
93 Suburban Silverado 4x4

Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!

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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I did the replacement on a 1995 with the new front end and it was very easy. Remove the upper rad shroud, then the lower one. You then need to remove the grill. (You will need to remove the signal lights to get to 4 screws for the grill) The condenser mount screws need to be removed from the radiator and then the radiator can be removed after disconnecting the lines.

I would look to the HD radiator upgrade stickied here or just buy a new one. They are pretty cheap.
Current rides:
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Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
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LaGrasta
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LaGrasta »

Welcome to the board, nice to have you here.
As for the radiator, no problem. You can do this. As mentioned, remove the grille. You'll be surprised at how easy it comes off. No a/c lines to worry about and as for the oil and tranny cooler lines, again they remove strikingly easy.

TIPS (while you're in there anyway):
Replace the oil cooler rubber lines. See the sticky with pictures for this.

Add additional external tranny cooler. It's cheap and easy and does wonders for the trans. See the sticky with pictures for this.

Replace the hoses, stat, and belt. You may want to consider the belt tensioner as well. Mine came apart a few years back for no reason.

God bless
Anthony
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box

Topic author
safari2000
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by safari2000 »

thanks for the tips!

I have decided to replace the water pump (orig 150k), thermostat and hoses while I am at it. So with the new radiator should i use one of those stop leak products when I refill? If so which one?

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Do not use any additives to the system. They may block up the cooling passages in the engine. Just refill with fresh coolant to the proper mix.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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tbhager94
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by tbhager94 »

hell i made a 2nd gen rad work on a 1st gen, it was a bit of modifying but it worked.
2000 chev blazer 4x4
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Topic author
safari2000
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I am merely driving my van
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by safari2000 »

The job went really smooth. I replaced the radiator, waterpump, thermostat and some hoses, and it only took one full day with a couple trips to the parts store. I did have a 2 inch crack in the plastic side part of the radiator. Waterpump wasnt leaking, but with 150k on it I figured i should do it anyway.

So after all this, the running temp seems to max out just below 210 on the dash gauge. Thats just a bit hotter than before the work. is that a normal temp?

also I am curious about the trans cooler mods. does anyone have job pics?

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

safari2000 wrote:also I am curious about the trans cooler mods. does anyone have job pics?
Look in the transmission section. There is a stickied thread about just trans coolers.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by afsigma21 »

safari2000 wrote:So after all this, the running temp seems to max out just below 210 on the dash gauge. Thats just a bit hotter than before the work. is that a normal temp?
That sounds hot to me. I run a lot cooler, more like 170, but I have a 180* Tstat installed and it has been great so far, only about 900 miles on it, gas mileage seemingly increased.
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1991 Astro CL 170k, then stolen and drove into a building, junked.
1995 Astro 110k sold for a truck, wish I hadnt.
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CaptSquid
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by CaptSquid »

Thermostat is supposed to be a 195º. Dash gauges are inaccurate, so it sounds about right.
Mike, Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
98 AWD Stro LS
93 Suburban Silverado 4x4

Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!

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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LaGrasta »

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread! :yikes: Now my radiator is leaking. #-o

We're heading to Yosemite this coming Tuesday and with shipping, I won't get the $100 ebay special here in time and a radiator at the local store is at least twice as much.

I'm going to drop a few sealant tablets in and hope it holds together for the trip. It's leaking on the driver's side somewhere; consistent, but minor. After the long and hot haul from AZ earlier this week, I never even topped it off in spite of the leak.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
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LaGrasta
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LaGrasta »

Well I cheated and won. I bought the radiator tablets and dropped only two of the six they recommend into the radiator and swapped rad caps to a low 7lb cap... not a single leak on my whole 800 mile vacation.

I swapped back to the 16lb cap and all is still good. I guess I'll run this rad just a bit longer.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
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LaGrasta
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Re: Radiator replacement

Post by LaGrasta »

yup, started leaking again, must have been the 16lb cap I reinstalled, it's just too much. I'll be starting the rad swap soon...
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
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