About a week ago I noticed the top plastic tank on my radiator was developing a crack that I could put a finger nail down in so I  purchased a replacement radiator before the original actually let go.  I priced three companies:  Delco for $320 (I believe), O'Reilly had the Murray brand for $234, and Autozone had the Spectra radiator for $159.    I opted for Autozone and their Spectra brand radiator because of decent reviews AND the fact it was a plain radiator without the auto trans lines in it because I have a manual tranny.  Went to Autozone to order it and was told it wasn't in stock.  I asked when it would be in stock and the guy called Spectra while I was standing there.  They told him they were out of parts and didn't expect to receive them until late June and it would be two weeks after receipt of the parts before delivery.  I was bummed but I went to O'Reilly's and ordered their Murray brand radiator with the tranny lines because that's all they stocked.  Long story short... ordered it one day, received it the next morning (good so far!), installed it two days ago and today I noticed it is leaking on the left side, opposite of the hoses.  The fix is obviously to go back to O'Reilly's and have them order another radiator and go through the nut roll of replacing it again.  This was ONE of reasons I didn't want to go with a Murray radiator.  Has anyone else had a similar problem with Murray "brand" radiators?  They may say "Murray" but they are made in China.  Spectra is supposed to be made in Canada... but I'm wondering if it is just "assembled in Canada"?

spectra at rockauto.com is about $100 shipped to you...

I think that they are all made overseas at this point. And 9 times out of 10, they'll be plumbed for the auto trans cooler too. It appears that it's more cost effective to make just one model that will service both transmission style vehicles, than it is to tool up, crank out and ship / stock two different types to the retailers.

The only options I've found is all metal verses the ones that continue to use the OE style w/plastic tanks.

I replaced mine a few years back due to the same tank cracking and did a little posting on it. This may help future queries on the subject.

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/1g-1999-2005-vitara-grand-vitara/26512-when-good-radiators-go-bad.html

there were no auto samurai so i don't think the rad is plumbed as such

Samurai?

I think you're in the wrong forum section. 

oopsie!

yes; yes, you're RIGHT!        

Had the 2nd Murray radiator in the truck for two days now.  So far... so good.

Dittoes Novadon.  The old radiator came out and the new one went in without removing anymore than the bolts to the fan shroud.   It laid back towards the engine enough to work around it.  My replacement hoses were Dayco "cut to fit" also and in my opinion the bottom one wasn't molded to "shape" close enough.  I guess there are production savings to be had ( ) by using extra material?  The good news (I guess) is I used the extra piece of hose I cut off to cushion the new hose where it was too close for comfort (to me) to my power steering hose because it was NOT shaped well enough.

The plastic clips in the bottom of the fan shroud are a PITA.  You can't hardly see them and they all eventually get brittle from heat (I guess?) and break and fall out.  I replaced them with some new plastic clips so I'm good to go... for a few months anyway.