In need of aluminum radiator

[mjonesjr84]

Anytime an multi-row core came into the discussion, they all seemed to devolve into overheating on the trail or overheating on the highway.

I can tell you from experience, my Cold Case does not overheat on the trail.

Autozone Duralast radiators have a lifetime warranty too, so I wouldn't read too much into that.

Exactly. If I were going to get a stock replacement, it would come from a local auto parts store. The O'Reilly lifetime warranty radiator I had got replaced twice before I installed the Cold Case. All of them cracked on the top plastic. And none of their warranty covers the labor or antifreeze.

 

[Unique Username]

Autozone Duralast radiators have a lifetime warranty too, so I wouldn't read too much into that.

I do find this very comedic. I have never bought something once in my life because it had a warranty. I also don’t recall ever needing a warranty and I do believe most people that need one need it because of improper installation. A warranty is never one of my reasons for purchasing anything.

 

[John Cooper]

Price?

For the repair and rodding out the radiator. $125.00.

 

[TheBoogieman]

For the repair and rodding out the radiator. $125.00.

That's way more than the price of my "quality" Radiator Barn replacement.

 

[John Cooper]

That's way more than the price of my "quality" Radiator Barn replacement.

But mine has a personal touch

 

[TheBoogieman]

But mine has a personal touch

But did you get decals?

 

[John Cooper]

But did you get decals?

Sadly no........

 

[TheBoogieman]

Sadly no........

Give me your address. I never installed them. You can stick them on @AndyG's Jeeps. Blame it on his wife.

 

[John Cooper]

Give me your address. I never installed them. You can stick them on @AndyG's Jeeps. Blame it on his wife.

View attachment 661280

Probably make his wheel fall off..........

 

[Zorba]

More and more, I'm thinking this is the way - but where are the top tanks coming from in 10 years?

I think that's the hardest part. Years ago I read so many radiator threads when either looking at forced induction options or just needing to replace my radiator. Anytime an multi-row core came into the discussion, they all seemed to devolve into overheating on the trail or overheating on the highway. The thinking 10 years ago was that the lack of any aero coverage under the body to force an area of low pressure resulted in high pressure under the hood, which reduced the airflow flow through the radiator. You have probably seen your hood get floaty from time to time

I've had classic vehicles that were much older with more miles on their original radiators. Even an early 70s FIAT 850 spider that was still running it's original radiator at 30+ years of age. Put on some trick heads and 4 sidedraft webers to double the power - still fine.

I don't actually think the Mopar radiator is a good quality radiator. 15 years is OK, but not good service life. The fact we can't find a reliable replacement today is an embarrassment with all the progress we've made in materials and manufacturing capabilities. Building a reliable radiator has been table stakes for 75 years.

This is EXACTLY what I've been saying - my old MBZ's radiator was changed out at 36 years just out of prudence, it was still leak free. I was able to get an OEM Behr for it, no problem, MBZ has me spoiled with parts availability.

I also am starting to think that part of the problem with Jeep radiators is that the damn thing may very well be undersized, and runs hotter than it needs to. *shrug*

 

[k1n3k]

Whats the take on the brass radiators that are available? I tossed one in my Sport and was pretty happy with the quality, but being brass they can be rebuilt by a radiator shop, all the joints are soldered and can be reflowed if cracked, and they're actually available.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8610232&cc=1425901&pt=2172&jsn=614

 

[TJ4Jim]

Whats the take on the brass radiators that are available? I tossed one in my Sport and was pretty happy with the quality, but being brass they can be rebuilt by a radiator shop, all the joints are soldered and can be reflowed if cracked, and they're actually available.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8610232&cc=1425901&pt=2172&jsn=614

Installed a CSF rad in my son's XJ years ago and never had any issues. Nice quality product

 

[Woodrow]

Whats the take on the brass radiators that are available? I tossed one in my Sport and was pretty happy with the quality, but being brass they can be rebuilt by a radiator shop, all the joints are soldered and can be reflowed if cracked, and they're actually available.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8610232&cc=1425901&pt=2172&jsn=614

IDK the answer but I am alternately amused or annoyed by these radiator threads. If you have read any of them, you know OEM is a good option that's not available. So you are left with the questionable aftermarket. Despite the fact that the OEMs did pretty well, the idea of plastic tanks seems bad and I had one of those fail (the OEM one) on my 2002 Grand Cherokee when it was 7 or 8 years old. My TJ has an unknown aftermarket all metal (brass, I believe) radiator that was in it when I bought in 2019 and I have never had a cooling issue (hwy, city, winter, summer, sand or snow wheeling, or even 120 degree ambient trail runs in Moab). Having jinxed myself, it will probably fail the next time I drive it. If it does, I'll probably get another brass one or perhaps a quality 2 core all aluminum unit like maybe the Cold Case.

 

[Unique Username]

Whats the take on the brass radiators that are available? I tossed one in my Sport and was pretty happy with the quality, but being brass they can be rebuilt by a radiator shop, all the joints are soldered and can be reflowed if cracked, and they're actually available.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8610232&cc=1425901&pt=2172&jsn=614

Brass would likely be fine if it was built for the application. Brass has different cooling properties than aluminum. That’s why back in the day they would advertise 3-5 row radiators and it actually cooled better. They were thick and heavy. Today’s aluminum have less rows and they are not the same in size to the brass days. I’m sure someone could do the math and tell you if the brass radiator with that amount of coverage and 3 rows could cool at the same rate as a 2 row aluminum. But I would stick with the 2 row aluminum as I know it has the abilities to cool within the allowed room made available.

Someone way smarter then me can explain the science and do the math to determine if it will work.

 

[ColoJeep]

I do believe most people that need one need it because of improper installation.

How does someone improperly install a radiator ? If you can't install a TJ radiator , maybe you shouldn't
be opening the hood . WTF.....

 

[Unique Username]

How does someone improperly install a radiator ? If you can't install a TJ radiator , maybe you shouldn't
be opening the hood . WTF.....

All the folks that break it during installation. Dropping crap down and damaging the fins, snapping off a hose connection, snapping off the cap seal, snapping off the overflow hose connection. All reasons someone returns something and claims it was damaged.

Wait! There is more! Dropping it and not noticing they cracked the lower part of the radiator until it’s installed and running. Dragging the fan shroud over the fins. All excuses that bad installers always return to the vendor and point the finger. “I got it this way”.
The list goes on. Poor installers always blame manufacturers.

 

[ColoJeep]

All the folks that break it during installation. Dropping crap down and damaging the fins, snapping off a hose connection, snapping off the cap seal, snapping off the overflow hose connection. All reasons someone returns something and claims it was damaged.

Wait! There is more! Dropping it and not noticing they cracked the lower part of the radiator until it’s installed and running. Dragging the fan shroud over the fins. All excuses that bad installers always return to the vendor and point the finger. “I got it this way”.
The list goes on. Poor installers always blame manufacturers.

" Poor installers " shouldn't .

 

[macleanflood]

You forgot yanking on the fan shroud thinking it snaps off, breaking it and discarding it.

And replacing those nasty constant tension clamps with hose clamps.

And mixing wrong types of coolant and making Jello or aluminum eating acid.

Or adding hard water...

-Mac

 

[jjvw]

This is EXACTLY what I've been saying - my old MBZ's radiator was changed out at 36 years just out of prudence, it was still leak free. I was able to get an OEM Behr for it, no problem, MBZ has me spoiled with parts availability.

I also am starting to think that part of the problem with Jeep radiators is that the damn thing may very well be undersized, and runs hotter than it needs to. *shrug*

Remember the days, not long ago, when we could recommend a radiator for the TJ that frequently lasted 100,000 miles? Can anyone in this thread do that today?

 

[GoldenGorilla]

Remember the days, not long ago, when we could recommend a radiator for the TJ that frequently lasted 100,000 miles? Can anyone in this thread do that today?

I'm not sure I could confidently recommend a TJ to go another 100,000 miles at all now that we're 20 years post production

Time just makes fools of us all