I do have a service manual on cd. I got it on ebay and you are right it is a very small, uninformative section! I did check the timing and I did have it at around 18 degrees advanced, but no detonation. I moved it back to 12 degrees to see how that does. I will probably lose some power, but maybe it will cool a little more, but it goes against my thinking. I did notice where it did say that if the timing was too far retarded, it might run hot, but they didn't say how much was too much.

About the fluidine radiator, how much was it and is it basically the same thickness of the stock one. Mine is aluminum and single core with plastic top and bottom. I wish they made a double core radiator same size. I would have bet money the turbo would have been that, but I was wrong! I don't have a numbered temp guage, but it runs for quite a while at about 1/3 up the guage. When it starts climbing to halfway I do the same as you, but I sure hate turning on the heater! I am going to make a piece that fits under the car between the airdam and the front crossmember to see if that directs more air to the radiator. I may even make a small scoop to pick up a little more air, but I will have to see about that.

My aftermarket Griffen for the race car was only $170.00, so I might just see if when all else fails, making one of those fit. They make several width and height combinations, maybe one will work if nothing else here does.

Thanks for all the comments and hints. It sure is a nice car to drive and with the better flowmaster muffler it sounds great too.

Russ

i forget exactly how much it was for the fluidyne
i think it was 500 bucks ... slides right into place using existing hardware

since you don't have a air/fuel meter you can't tell if it's running lean

That seems pretty cool, mine runs around the halfway point all the time after it warms up, and water never spews. :blink:

That radiator sounds funny to me, I don't have plastic ends, though my bro's T/A does, and he had to replace it because when it did blow it was nasty. Also, try putting the old mechanical fan on it, and replace the fan clutch, it sounds like it was going out since it slowed down when it got hot.

Fluidyne radiator with fans:
http://www.suprastore.com/copa.html

the more i think about this , the more i would like to know whats inside the long pipes on the side of the block .

the temp gauge should be around a third of the way from the bottom

if you in the market for a new rad ebay has some geat deals on koyo racing rads that are all aluminum construction,i got mine from drift factory warehouse for 364.00 with shipping and a free item of your choice.this core is stout and a tight fit,but it does fit unlike the peice of tissue paper the stock one.you can use all of you old hardware too.

also this koyo rad is normally 530.00 dollars,get a great deal now.you'll look at your stock one next to the koyo and wonder what the hell toyota was thinking putting that oem peice o crap in in the first place.

The pipes along the side of the block are clear, but they aren't really needed except the the fact that they are part of the piping for the heater core and it seems like you really need that to help cool the damn thing down!!!! Only 98* outside so 85 feels almost cool.......lol.

I am going to put a Griffen racing radiator in it like I used to have in my Celica race car. They make a 26x19x3 double row aluminum radiator for $160.00 I will have to make the mounting hardware for it, but it is nothing I haven't done before. It is an inch taller than the stock radiator but more than twice the cooling power and...........the price is very right for me ;-).

It runs so marginally hot that I know this will fix it. I guess it never gets hot in Japan so that tiny thing up front was good enough there. Even still though, it seems that it would almost always have to be in the 50's to keep the car cool enough to have fun and drive without worry........maybe?!?!?! The car sounds too cool to give up on and there aren't any around here or there are but they all have a...BHG.....arghhhhhhh....................won't say the three words... ;) .

Later
Russ

i've held onto mine for ten years and poured cash ,sweat and tears into it for a reason .

i use a 160 degree thermostat from toyota

DDMCSE.....lol!! That is a very good website. Nice history of your two cars. Very sad about the first one. I even liked the touch about being faster than anything in Bossier City.........lol, that was good. It sure is a sad event when these beautiful engines have to be upgraded so much to make them reliable. That is a great looking radiator, but way to much for me to spend, the wife would kill me more than she already has!!!

The turbo has always been a dream, but was just hoping to get this one done, drive it then sell it to upgrade to the turbo. Well, maybe someday. I went with the 180 thermostat but had the option of the 160. Have you tried both and could you tell a difference? I mean did it keep it cooler any longer or run too cool. I really want to know just how good that Fluidyne radiator turned out. I am sure it is a double row aluminum rad. Can you run it as hard and as long as you like it and have it still maintain its cool? Tell me about it. Thanks

Russ