Lr3 alternator & radiator question?

[bluetick82]

Just picked up a 2005 lr3 with a hundred 22000 miles and it needs a radiator and an alternator. I'm wondering if it's worth putting in a high output alternator for 239 bucks or whether the $140 OEM replacement is fine. I don't plan on doing anything crazier than a fridge and some lights and maybe maybe a winch? Also is there any reason to get anything above and OEM replacement for the radiator?

 

[DiscoDavis]

No reason for either to go beyond OEM. Replace with genuine or a good OEM part.

 

[LKLK]

Oem is going to be just as expensive. Go with what your budget allows, and be real with yourself. Are your going to really do these upgrades? Also, I would consider taking the original failing alternator to a specialist and have them fix/mod it. The radiator is a non discussion, replace it asap along with the hoses and the thermostat housing. Belts and pulley's would be a good thing to check and replace while you're working on the radiator.

 

[Victory_Overland]

Agree with all above. I have two Ultima alternators, one in the truck and one as a spare in the back because the life of these is not what I experienced on the factory LR alternator. BUT, I can buy three of these for the price of one factory and it makes good sense for me to have a spare in the truck! On that note, I'm averaging about two years on the Ultimas with a lifetime warranty and I just swap them as I need to, take it out, put the new one in and return to Oreilly for the spare that rides along with me.

 

[nwoods]

LR3’s are VERY sensitive to voltage irregularities and/or low voltages. Your money is best spent on a high quality battery like an Interstate battery and a refurb OEM alternator

 

[bluetick82]

Hey Guys,

wow.

I ended up with a OEM denso for $189.

In the middle of the alternator swap and having a bear of a time getting the new one bolted back up. Ive got the connections reattached but I can't seem to get the bolts in with several hours of wiggling. Im fairly certain that I've got the positive lead and the clip connected correctly.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Anyone in the Santa Cruz, CA area that might have some time to help would be a godsend....?

I got this Lr3 knowing that it needed a few things, alternator, driver door actuator, maybe a radiator and hoses and a full fluids change. Thought the alternator would be straight forward, but gezz. I've watched several videos and browsed the forums and everyone seems to think this is a 1-2 hour job....

thanks

 

[Mjsewell]

I did this a few months ago and it was a four hour job for me. I'd say that once you get the terminal connection attached, just place the alternator back in its rough place. Then I put in the bolts with a little bit of jiggling to make them all fit. But once you get the first one you should be able to rotate and fiddle it around the various axis to get all three.

 

[bluetick82]

I GOT IT IN! It was probably more than that for me. I basically followed the tutorial from British Atlantic. I may have to do the radiator, would have been a bit easier to do both of them at the same time, but of well.

Next up its drivers side door actuator, oil, tranny pan oil, diffs and coolant when I do the radiator.

 

[bluetick82]

Been checking things off the list. Got the drivers side door actuator, oil, diffs front and rear and the transfer case fluids changed. Still working up the courage to do the tranny pan/fliter and the radiator. Anyone have strong feelings about brand of radiator, considering a $320 PR2 from Atlantic British (https://www.roverparts.com/Parts/LR021777) or a $245 Europspare off Ebay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Land-R...HC+Naturally+Aspirated#vi-ilComp&shqty=1#shId)

I am planning on following this tutorial on a Sport
I don't think I need to change out the AC condenser, is it possoble to change out just the radiator? Anyone recently do this job and have tips?

 

[Victory_Overland]

I've done both and recommend going with what AB gets you. I ordered both the radiator and the condenser and the jobs are pretty easy to be honest. If you look into my first couple pages of my build thread you will see the process; keep in mind, my entire front end was redone with the radiator support taken out too.

 

[bluetick82]

Yeah,

Well, I order the one in the link, it was not an OEM fit and only found out when I already had it in and a few of the flanges wouldn't got back on. I ended up with a Nissen from the local NAPA. It wasnt to bad all and all, but I did decided afterword to just let my local Rover shop do the tranny pan service. Its now all done and I got to drive the truck in the massive storm we just had in the Bay Area. SO SO SO Wonderful. I really like this rig.

 

[Victory_Overland]

Yeah,

Well, I order the one in the link, it was not an OEM fit and only found out when I already had it in and a few of the flanges wouldn't got back on. I ended up with a Nissen from the local NAPA. It wasnt to bad all and all, but I did decided afterword to just let my local Rover shop do the tranny pan service. Its now all done and I got to drive the truck in the massive storm we just had in the Bay Area. SO SO SO Wonderful. I really like this rig.

Strange! Did you talk to AB about the fit problem? I ordered about a million parts from them when I had to rebuild my front end and not a single part had a fitment problem. There are a few parts that I did not buy as LR Genuine because OEM was good enough for me; anything with a bearing or seal is LR genuine but some of the plastics and such are OEM good enough. I did go with an AC Delco water pump and it's been two years with no issues although I may be smelling some potential seepage from the gasket that I need to investigate.

 

[bluetick82]

The radiator that didn't fit was not from Atlantic British. It was a link to Amazon from the video above. Interestingly in the video it shows a nissen radiator but the one I got was not that. The one that I ended up installing that worked from Napa was a nissen.

 

[Victory_Overland]

The radiator that didn't fit was not from Atlantic British. It was a link to Amazon from the video above. Interestingly in the video it shows a nissen radiator but the one I got was not that. The one that I ended up installing that worked from Napa was a nissen.

Thanks for the clarification; that helps all of us on future evolutions.