So, I just finished changing out my radiator. First time, only took me 4-5 hours (one of which was spent walking to a store to buy last minute stuff -I'll explain why...). OK. So, most importantly, I went with a Silla 7868A from Amazon.

1. $160.00 delivered to my door. Amazon said 3-5 days shipping time, I got mine 2 days after submitting order.
2. LIFETIME WARRANTY
3. Branch location located 20 mins. away should I have to return for warranty, I called and so far they do keep these in stock at their warehouse, cost: $280.00... So stick with amazon purchase and service through branch office.
4. Self explanatory swap. Just make sure you either buy a new temperature sensor or do what I did, get a wrench, pull it out. CLEAN the brass tip with a rag until shiny, wipe any debris off threads. HERES WHERE I HAD TO WALK TO A STORE: Apply Teflon tape to THREAD AREA ONLY (don't want any teflon shards breaking off inside radiator) apply new rubber o-ring (included with radiator purchase on screw that you removed to replace with sensor) on the temp. sensor. Screw sensor on.
5. I took a shop vac and slightly covered an inlet tube with palm of hand, shop vac hose to other inlet tube. Found that it DID have a few aluminum particles (about the size of sand, very few) from manufacturing process. YOUR WATER PUMP WILL THANK YOU.
6. You do not need to take front grill, etc off your truck. Simply remove battery, followed by 6 #13 bolts holding battery box; unclip MAF, move MAF out of the way, remove air filter box.

All in all, I replaced: Radiator, Coolant (obviously), Coolant reservoir tank, Coolant reservoir tank cap. Total cost:~$240 Savings: ~4hrs paid labor, parts (depending where you get them, I'd hate to know how much the dealer would want)

Pics to come, as wife is bugging me

 

Correction: $165.57 radiator cost, ~245.57 total.

 

I went to the folks at BP Utah for my radiator. More pricey than yours, but I have no doubts about it in the slightest!

 

I have no doubts that my $165.57 radiator will perform just as "good" as the stock did, like I said, I compared the two before installing the Silla one (pics soon as I'm prepping for a flight @ 7am), and they were both identical in build quality/appearance and measures, just at a low price with lifetime warranty. I even left my disco on idle for 25 mins (checked temps every 5 mins) and then revved up to 1300 rpms while in park to make sure my coolant bleed was precise and I wouldn't have to top up after the complete system (heater core and all) was air free. Afterwards, Scantron OBD scanner still read 194* (keep in mind I have a custom built stainless steel hose T which I took the time to inspect while I swapped radiator and all was just as I had built it about two months ago {no evident corrosion}).

 

A new clean radiator of approximate size is better than a sludged up oem one. A 180F stat is the icing on the cake.

 

Even with that new radiator - I bet if you have a 190 degree thermostat,
go for a freeway or an interstate drive and then come off the road and go slow for 5 minutes, I BET your temp will climb to 210 degrees and your AUX fan will come on.
All that solved this for me was
the 180 degree thermostat.

 

Is there a radiator replacement write up? One that should be inserted into the sticky write up thread?

 

The only reason I didn't put a new thermostat in was because I had just put in a new Stant 180 about two months ago, and I inspected to be good, no stop leak deposit, as I had flushed the system when I installed my custom T.

 

Silla 7868A on left, stock on right

 

View from top, notice all correct sizes and fittings.