First Fix on my new cherokee

[BIGdaddy]

Looks like the first order of business after my tune-up/base-line
is going to end up being the radiator.

Pulled into the market parking lot after work yesterday and opened
my door to the smell of coolant. "Uh-oh", I thought. I found a steady
drip (not a large flow, by any means, but steady) coming from behind the trans cooler at the point where the plastic end tanks meet the core.

I pulled the metal cover, fans, grill and took a look at the top of the radiator last night and found where the leak was coming from. In an effort to slow/stop the leak, since the radiator is in good shape I JB welded the seam where plastic end tank meets the core.

I let it cure overnight, and found that it was just barely weeping, not dripping by any means this morning.


So, with my finger in the dam, does anyone have a suggestion other than the $120.00 plastic/steel rad. from pep-boys? Seems like a good price and probably would last a good 3-5 years.

Any brass/alum. deals to be found? Any tricky things I should know when I replace it? Or can I just follow my Haynes manual?

Thanks!

 

[ExpoMike]

My recommendation based on my research is the 3 row CSF radiator. All aluminum and seems to be the top choice. Sad part is, they are discontinuing this. Dirk at DPG (good guy to work with) bought the last of them so you will want to jump on getting one. He posted up on NAXJA that talking to CSF, they are discontinuing them because they are exspensive to build and don't get sold to "normal" people enough. True XJ nuts are buying them but not enough compared to the average guy who just wants a replacement. Price is good too.

Here's the link, http://www.dpgoff-road.com/site/radiators.htm

I am seriously thinking of buying one and sticking it away for now. The one in mine was replaced just before we bought ours and only has 12,000 miles on it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

175.00 for an all metal radiator seems great. are they the same width
as the stock unit? or do I have to do some fitting...

any tips to swapping a radiator, mike or is it just drain, disconnect, reconnect, fill?

 

[ExpoMike]

I believe this is a direct bolt in, no mods. As for swapping, I believe you need to unbolt the top core support, the fan shroud, hoses and tranny lines. It pulls up and you swap in the new one. Only thing I have heard people having problems, is getting the tranny lines to disconnect. Not sure on the earlier models but my '00 has a special snap in fitting that really requires the special tool to remove them. Since I was bypassing my in tank tranny cooler, I just cut mine.

I think the swap is fairly straight forward. Oh, might be a good time to replace the t-stat, hoses and sometimes the t-stat housing, as they can start to leak with age. No idea if yours is the original one or not.

BTW, I PM'ed you about a hitch I found on Craigslist.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

CSF 3 Core from http://radiatorbarn.com/

 

[mudbutt]

My recommendation based on my research is the 3 row CSF radiator.... Dirk at DPG (good guy to work with) bought the last of them so you will want to jump on getting one.

X seventy bazillion.........

I just ordered one yesterday...... And I don't need a radiator......

Dirk said he thinks he has 11-15 of them left but wasn't positive. He said he was trying to fenaggle another pallet-full but that was a definite "maybe". After they are gone...... NO MAS!.....


If I were you I would call RIGHT NOW!!!!

http://www.dpgoff-road.com/

While you are at it, get the Hesco or Flowkooler high flow water pump and Mr. Gasket high flow t-stat. Do the whole thing at once and kiss all your cooling problems goodbye. If you are not aware of it, Go Jeep has a great write up on the web here:

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoWaterpump.htm

 

[BIGdaddy]

X seventy bazillion.........

I just ordered one yesterday...... And I don't need a radiator......

Dirk said he thinks he has 11-15 of them left but wasn't positive. He said he was trying to fenaggle another pallet-full but that was a definite "maybe". After they are gone...... NO MAS!.....


If I were you I would call RIGHT NOW!!!!

http://www.dpgoff-road.com/

While you are at it, get the Hesco or Flowkooler high flow water pump and Mr. Gasket high flow t-stat. Do the whole thing at once and kiss all your cooling problems goodbye. If you are not aware of it, Go Jeep has a great write up on the web here:

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoWaterpump.htm

see thats the thing that sucks. I don't have cooling problems right now. Maybe I should take the mindset of "if not now, soon...", lol.

I don't have the budget to replace everything right now, but I certainly am listening with respect to the upgraded radiator.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I believe this is a direct bolt in, no mods. As for swapping, I believe you need to unbolt the top core support, the fan shroud, hoses and tranny lines. It pulls up and you swap in the new one. Only thing I have heard people having problems, is getting the tranny lines to disconnect. Not sure on the earlier models but my '00 has a special snap in fitting that really requires the special tool to remove them. Since I was bypassing my in tank tranny cooler, I just cut mine.

I think the swap is fairly straight forward. Oh, might be a good time to replace the t-stat, hoses and sometimes the t-stat housing, as they can start to leak with age. No idea if yours is the original one or not.

BTW, I PM'ed you about a hitch I found on Craigslist.

Thanks Mike. Yeah the teardown is no problem, did that last night in 30mins. Its the install I'm unsure of, since i've heard about issues with "burping" a coolding system to make sure there's no air in it.

OH, and I have actually talked to that guy about his hitch. He's a socalXJ'r. Seems like a good guy. I might pick it up, but there's no hardware, so I'd have to buy the nut strips, which are $30.00 a side from the dealer. I guess my year didn't have one side with captured nuts like yours does.

puts it up around $100.00 with hitch, nut strips , and wire hookup. Still a good deal, but might have to deal with this cooling issue first..lol. I'll probably pick up his hitch, and just hold on to it until I get the nut strips figured out. You wouldn't want to make me a set of your custom ones would you?

 

[ExpoMike]

Sure I would make them. When I do mine, it will be easy to make a couple more sets. Like I said in my PM, time and space are my problems right now. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be getting parts on the truck frame and make it a roller, then I can get to my welders again.

 

[BIGdaddy]

CSF 3 Core from http://radiatorbarn.com/

I was actually looking @ the 2 core from the perspective of fitment and price. I've also heard that the 3 cores sometimes reduce the size of the tubing to get the extra core, and that it translates to easily getting
clogged/plugged due to the smaller diameter.

Anyone see an issue with me getting the 2 core all metal listed on radiatorbarn?

I think I'll probably do that in the next couple days.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Sure I would make them. When I do mine, it will be easy to make a couple more sets. Like I said in my PM, time and space are my problems right now. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be getting parts on the truck frame and make it a roller, then I can get to my welders again.

Awesome, mike. I'm not hurried @ all on the hitch. Sounds great. maybe we can have a quick install party...whether I buy yours or his. I'll bring some beers/soda and help you get yours on, too.

Any thoughts on the detours D-shackle setup? http://www.detoursusa.com/c3r.php

I was thinking getting a stock tire carrier and a set of those for recovery purposes, rather than the tailbone setup.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

I was actually looking @ the 2 core from the perspective of fitment and price. I've also heard that the 3 cores sometimes reduce the size of the tubing to get the extra core, and that it translates to easily getting
clogged/plugged due to the smaller diameter.

You can compare the core sizes between the two right on Radiatorbarns site:

2 core: 31 X 10-15/16 X 1-5/16
3 core: 31 X 10-15/16 X 1-13/16

1/2" difference between the core sizes. I've personally been running a 3 core in 2 different Jeeps for a total of 7 years and have never had a problem with clogging.

Just my 2 cents

 

[ExpoMike]

Awesome, mike. I'm not hurried @ all on the hitch. Sounds great. maybe we can have a quick install party...whether I buy yours or his. I'll bring some beers/soda and help you get yours on, too.

Any thoughts on the detours D-shackle setup? http://www.detoursusa.com/c3r.php

I was thinking getting a stock tire carrier and a set of those for recovery purposes, rather than the tailbone setup.

That shackle setup is cool. I don't recall seeing that before. Almost makes me rethink my rear bumper plans, since I wanted some shackle setup too.

As for the stock tire carrier, there are two types. One only mounts to the bumper and the other style mounts to the bumper and the pass. side quarter panel. In either cases, make sure you get ALL of the mounting hardware. The quarter panel style there is an inner bracket that goes behind the interior panel the strengthen the quarter panel. I think the bumper style has an extra bracket to strengthen the corner of the bumper. Just a heads up.

L8R

 

[1speed]

I put the three core all metal one from Radiator Barn in my wifes old TJ and it was a great product and bolted right in.

 

[bdr529]

I recently installed a 3-core CSF in my 97 XJ. I didn't measure, but it does seem to be a bit wider because I can no longer reach the petcock valve from the engine bay or through the grill like I could on the OE. My only real complaint about the radiator is that the filler spout feels like it's going to break off if you put pressure on it, e.g., by screwing on the cap.