Radiator Needed For my H3

[USMC_TOP]

Aftermarket or OEM?

 

[alrock]

OEM has come down a bunch in price - still more money, but competitive. I bought an aftermarket one and the friggin' neck is 1/10" too large. I'll be headed back to OEM soon. PM Zach for a quote

 

[USMC_TOP]

Good enough for me. OEM it is @ $284.80 on eBay from a GM dealer in Jersey

 

[USMC_TOP]

I now have over $ 700 in my eBay cart waiting on Thursday payday. DELCO PRO lower ball joints and sway bar links with bushings. Dorman uppers/ a arms and bushings with the ball joints in em. New cap for the new radiator and a side hood seal. Then the wheel alignment. Hopefully the lower a arm bushings are good. And I'll have them take a good look at the rack bushings. Don't want that thing moving around messing up my new skins.

 

[USMC_TOP]

I never thought of buying from one of u all. I'm in for $740 on all those parts I just listed. Figured OEM was the way to go and I hear Dorman parts are good to go too.

 

[Mb30sdl]

Dorman makes good quality parts.

 

[08H3]

Dorman may be fine, but price shop. I ended up with the GM UCA for less than Dorman. Granted the Dorman's were priced through a shop which I'm sure had a markup, but it doesn't hurt to look at all possibilities.

 

[digglesworth]

I found oem uppers for $130/each

 

[Best4x4]

Don't have a clue what aftermarket brand my uca's are but they were 160 for the set.

 

[digglesworth]

Don't have a clue what aftermarket brand my uca's are but they were 160 for the set.

I've seen some like that too... Are they holding up?

 

[Hayden]

i just ordered a silla radiator after reading good things about them. was about 140 with free shipping, we'll see how it goes

 

[Best4x4]

Haven't installed them yet Digglesworth but we'll see how they hold up.

 

[USMC_TOP]

Yeah I looked at the Silla but don't know anything about them. Are OEM ones 2 core. (Or row)? I see some are 1,row? Is a row today's word for core?

 

[USMC_TOP]

I ended up buying a OEM radiator for $284. I got the upper ball joints/ control arm & bushing for $107 each. Dorman. I also got OEM DELCO pro lower ball joints for $ 34 each and DELCO pro sway bar links/ front for $32 each and the OEM sway bar bushings for $36 each. Don't know why the bushings were so much? Just OEM rubber. Got Goodyear upper and lower radiator hoses too, $20 for the upper and $26 for the lower. Ordered everything off eBay. I don't feel like doing all this work my self so I'll pay my local mechanic to do it. Needs wheel alignment after install anyway and they have a very nice high end alignment rack......... oh yeah final parts cost was $740 parts. Everything up front will be new now with exception of the lower control arms. Hope they arnt worn out when they put it on the rack.

 

[alrock]

That should take care of a lot of the front end wear and tear.

 

[USMC_TOP]

Well; put the radiator in myself and I must say it was easy. I was impressed how the fan shroud is two pieces and you spin it to the position you need and just pull it over the fan. Very cool. Went real easy. I also had my local shop put all those front end parts pulse a set of Timkin front wheel bearing because they were junk too. Lifetime warranty on the bearings parts and labor. You were right ALROCK, took care of all the wear and tear! Truck rides like a dream now! No bump steer, solid as a rock on potholes too ! Very impressed and very happy with my mid life crisis toy! Kenwood double din DVD NAV System is next then the ARB front bumper.

 

[alrock]

Glad to hear of the good news. I think a lot of us might not realize how loose the front end gets and what a rebuild can do - it's just normal wear and tear. I really believe my truck with 133,000 miles on it is driving like a 10,000 mile vehicle due to the maintenance that's been put in.

 

[USMC_TOP]

I totally agree. This thing drives almost as nice as my wife's Buick Lacross! The steering now is as tight as my VW Jetta. Anyone that's owned a VW can tell you they are very sporty tight. I had them check out the rear suspension while they were going through it and they said everything was perfect back there. Must not get much wear from the rear. I only have 80k on my H3. I was in the MARINE CORPS for 6 years 1988-1994, served in the first Desert Storm; and I got me a personal Marine Veteran license plate! Michigan USMCH3 couldn't believe it was available! Has a nice EGA on the left of the USMCH3! Looks awesom! If I could figure out how to post a picture in here I would. To ALROCK: I was raised by my Father and he always said keep all your suspension, steering parts and breaks in perfect shape, and always go OEM if you can afford it. Saves your tires, keeps that new car feel in the ride quality and can save your life if a ball joint or a tie rod decides to break @ 80mph after hitting a Michigan pot hole!.............