So, in my conversion project, my one big hold up is finding a radiator to use. I still need to investigate having a custom one made based on my original petrol radiator, but I'm hoping to find a diesel trooper radiator I can use instead of a custom approach.

First question, did the '86/'87 troopers with the diesel have an AT option. Since I have an AT now, I'd like to use a rad that has the rad cooler built in. From what I've been able to find, AT wasn't an option in the US diesel Troopers. Does anyone know for sure?

Even getting my hands on a used non-AT trooper rad would help as I could have it re-cored for better cooling and maybe have a transmission cooler added at the same time.

Speed shops such as Summit Racing offer universal radiators which could be an option, but I'd have to fabricate a mounting solution. My ideal would be to use the original mounting setup for a 1st gen trooper.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks,
Paul

Hey Paul,

Does your rad mount up the same as my pup? If it does, I'd just get a diesel pup rad and have it re-cored like I did.

Another option would be to have the water necks on yours moved. I assume that is the only difference between the petrol rad and the diesel one?? Any radiator shop (I recommend Performance Radiator, they did an awesome job on mine) could do that. I think I dealt with a guy named Bill at Performance rad in Tacoma. Might be worth giving them a call and getting their thoughts. They like custom stuff. When I told him what I was doing, he got really interested and went above and beyond to help.

I'd use a seperate trans cooler though. Built in ones work (ok) for standard use, but a stand-alone unit cools more effeciantly.

Get your crossmember hammered out??

Mine has been done at the exhaust shop since Monday after having all new 2 1/2" exhaust put on, with no muffler. He sent it out for a front end alignment for me also. It's all tabbed and insured and ready to put on the road. I pick it up tomorrow afternoon. I'm soooooo excited <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

HI PAUL THE TURBO DSL TROOPERS IN THE U.S. WERE NEVER AVAILABLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANS, , JUST NOT ENOUGH POWER , THE RAD FORM A PICKUP WILL FIT BUT IIT IS MARGINAL IN THE TROOPER BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT, THE TROOPER RAD IS ABOTU 2 1/2 INC TALLER , ALL THE TURBO RADS WERE 3 ROW , I HAVE A GOOD USED TROOPER RAD THAT I HAVE HAD FOR A LONG TIME , IT WAS NOT LEAKING AND THE CORE WAS NOT ROTTED AWAY, IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT ONE TIME FOR A PIN HOLE, BUT I DONT KNOW IF THE FREIGHT TO WA WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE , AS I AM IN ATLANTA JERRY

Thanks for the info guys, I'll contact Performance Radiator and see what options they can offer. Sounds like a remote transmission cooler will be the ticket. Jerry, I'll get back to you if the options don't look good. Buying yours might be a good option, I'll see how the local shop pans out first.

Thanks,
Paul

Finally, got a chance to talk to the folks at Performance Radiator. Souns like a piece of cake. I just drop off my petrol radiator and tell them what I want, then pick up my 'new' radiator. I'll hopefully have it done in the next week...

Paul

I'd get your hoses lined out before you have the rad modified. I had to get kind of creative with mine. Upper was no problem, just standard Isuzu diesel pup upper rad hose, but on the lower the rad was a different size than the engine, so I had to so some adapting.

Turn around time on mine was less than a week.