Looking for 4.0 D1 4-row radiator

[Tugela]

Has anyone recently purchased a 4-row, all-aluminum radiator for a 96-99 D1? Did it fit correctly? If so, what was the source?

Mine started leaking and I have since ordered two new replacements from different vendors and both had the same issue: the interior of the oil cooler port is too small and the line won't connect. I imagine every vendor is getting their parts from the same factory in China. It's a long shot, but hopefully someone can point me to a vendor whose product actually fits.

I suppose I can go back to a Nissens, which worked fine for about 4 years, but I appreciated the extra capacity of the larger radiator and would like to stick with a 4-row model if I can find one.

 

[p m]

Are you sure you need a larger radiator? A stock Nissens worked perfectly fine in several of my Rovers, including some off-road use in serious heat.

 

[Tugela]

Are you sure you need a larger radiator? A stock Nissens worked perfectly fine in several of my Rovers, including some off-road use in serious heat.

I don't need a larger radiator. Do I want one? Yes. Nissens served me satisfactorily for a few years and I'm fine with going back to that if I can't track down a readily-available alternative. It's more a case of "since I have to replace this anyway, can I achieve any marginal gain?" At this point the headache of dealing with non-fitting parts is tipping the scales towards not being worth the hassle.

 

[p m]

At this point the headache of dealing with non-fitting parts is tipping the scales towards not being worth the hassle.

I hear you. $200 of a difference isn't worth a day of fucking with ill-fitting hardware.

 

[Rangeroversurfer]

Has anyone recently purchased a 4-row, all-aluminum radiator for a 96-99 D1? Did it fit correctly? If so, what was the source?

Mine started leaking and I have since ordered two new replacements from different vendors and both had the same issue: the interior of the oil cooler port is too small and the line won't connect. I imagine every vendor is getting their parts from the same factory in China. It's a long shot, but hopefully someone can point me to a vendor whose product actually fits.

I suppose I can go back to a Nissens, which worked fine for about 4 years, but I appreciated the extra capacity of the larger radiator and would like to stick with a 4-row model if I can find one.

Hello Tugela

I had to go with a Nissens, and well it is what it is, but will probably have the genuine LR rotted and reworked and reinstalled before next summer, bummed for you that all that work and the 4 row aluminum radiator having problems

 

[Tugela]

Resolution: I spent a little more time looking for alternative options and briefly considered having the original (4-row) radiator modified to fit the cooling lines, but this sounded like another gamble. I finally did what I should have done in the first place, which was to reach out to Will Tillery. He sourced a radiator that he has positive personal experience using and it comes with a 3-year warranty. Sometimes you end up where you need to go via an indirect route.

 

[best4x4]

The Ebay or Amazon Aluminum radiators are a joke. I tried 1, had to use adapters for the trans & oil cooler lines. They never stopped seeping 100% and that upset me. However the biggest thing that upset me was on a trip back in 2019 to the HCRR Event. The lower trans line connector basically blew clean off the radiator, I immediately lost ATF fluid, it all dumped onto the exhaust manifold and nearly caused a fire. Lucky for me I had actually just passed a dear friend of mine when it blew and he let me go grab some spare parts off his D1 parts truck! I contacted the vendor since it had a warranty and they completely ghosted me. Never got a replacement or any sort of contact from those folks.

Then fast forward 2-3 years. I was building up a 95 LR at the time, friend said how their aluminum radiator dropped right in. I asked about the lines and was told no issues. Ordered it, and the radiator mounts were correct on this one, but the lines were once again a completely different thread type for the oil coolers. Trans lines actually went on this time. I contacted the company and they said to just simply have my oil lines redone to the thread pitch on their radiator. I asked what it was and they never answered me. All I got was "Same as OEM" to which I replied no they aren't or we wouldn't be having this conversation..... I then said NO THANKS I will not modify my vehicle to fit your radiator which DOES NOT fit. Took me 2 months to get my $$$ back. I went with a Nissens and zero issues after that.

Then a friend was asking about the Amazon/Ebay stuff. I told them to RUN FOREST RUN... Buy a Nissens and call it a day. They didn't listen, bought the aluminum unit and of coarse it didn't fit trans or oil line wise. I said return it, they modified their LR for the radiator.....

Either go with a Nissens or get an OEM unit redone. Allisport used to be great, but for the $$$$$ they should be!

 

[StangGT5]

For what it's worth, I have used an ebay aluminum radiator in a D1 and it fit fine. Everything bolted right up. I bought one for a RRC and had to run external coolers for oil and transmission fluid. I have used ebay aluminum radiators in Jeeps a lot with good luck but Jeep didn't play connector musical chairs like LR did in the 80s/90s. One aluminum radiator I bought for a V8 Jeep was, however, the biggest piece of Chinesium crap I have ever seen. Absolutely a joke.

All that said, I guess they're a gamble and Nissens does the job fine.

 

[best4x4]

Yeah I'd agree and say it's a 50/50 chance. Nissens as long as it arrives in one piece (thanks UPS & FedEx) will work 100% of the time. Drake Off Road used to make a nice Aluminum Radiator for the TJ/LJ back in the day, but they never got into LR stuff.

 

[dcphotos]

I just replaced my Nissens rad with the $1,200+ all metal radiator from Atlantic British. We were on the “ez” trail then the trail leader decided to take us up a boulder field.
I crawl over a large rock and the ‘97 Disco slams down on it and the engine died.
It fired back up and I reversed off the rock and we all turned back and ate lunch.
All seemed fine. We start down another trail and about mile or so the Disco stalls. It didn’t want to start up and I could smell sulfur. I popped the hood and I had a thin layer of oil in my fill reservoir.
It started back up so I headed off the mountain. Drove it about 40 miles or so. It was running good and 170°’s temp.
Next day, drove it two hours to a shop in Colorado Springs and had the tech look at it.
He found the internal oil cooler had cracked, it was seeping oil into the coolant.
I had Atlantic British ship them an all metal radiator and so far it seems to be running about 10° cooler than the Nissens.
Drove from Colorado Springs to Bryce Canyon and it ran 172-183° most of the way thru a lot of steep mountain passes.

 

[Blueboy]

I finally did what I should have done in the first place, which was to reach out to Will Tillery.

Yep. He provided aluminum ones for my D1 and RRC. Both fit without issues or modifications. After about 5 years in both no leaks and engines run cool.