Scorpion8

My 98 project XJ came with front end damage, so I'm not sure all the parts are original, especially since it has a 94ish front end. The radiator was old, tired and looked terrible, so since I needed to pull the alternator to tackle a wobbly voltage issue, I pulled the radiator.

The old one (year-unknown) had no filler neck or cap, so I don't know how you were supposed to add water/coolant. Which is obvious because there was nothing in the system. Anyway, it had four connections on the LHS: tranny cooler IN and OUT, lower coolant line to engine, and a thermostatic plug that wasn't plugged into anything.

New radiator (year-correct) has three connections on LHS: tranny cooler IN and OUT, and lower coolant line. But it has a fill connection and cap. Yea! But oddly, the old radiator had a small welded-on stub tube coming out that goes into a push-fit quick disconnect. The new radiator has a screw thread connector. Obviously, the two do NOT mate up.

Do I have the wrong radiator? Is there a small connector that is available to match up the tranny cooler lines? The top tranny cooler line unscrewed and screwed right into the new radiator like presto! The bottom one is holding up my radiator rebuild side-project.

Help!

djb383

A '98 rad has a short metal tube at the bottom, it's for a "slip-on quick connect" fitting on one of the tranny fluid lines. The top connector on the rad is a metal male fitting.

I believe '90 and earlier rads had no filler neck/cap.....commonly referred to as "closed system"

Scorpion8

So how would I get a pre-90 "closed system" with the short metal tube if that's a 98 radiator?

Illuminator

The radiator it came with probably was from a earlier model and was not correct one. There should be a filler neck on 98 rad. I have a '90 with no filler neck on rad. On mine I have a pressure bottle instead. One with no filler neck is for closed system, '98 is open system from factory and has filler neck.

waltermitty

These are pics of my 1998 XJ old rad and replacement from the Radiator Barn. Copper core/brass tanks $192.00 shipped w/lifetime warranty.

djb383

Sounds like the OP's XJ has been fubared over the years. U always hear of converting "closed" system ('90 down) to an "open" system ('91 up).

Scorpion8

Thanks! The top pic shows a stub tube that could be unscrewed and swapped over. My old radiator has the welded tube as in the bottom pic, but also has another spot for a temp sensor (which wasn't plugged into anything). Does anyone know if I can get just that stub tube, or should I return the radiator (O'Reilly's) and seek another proper replacement?

djb383

Your top tranny fluid line line should have a female threaded connector that attaches to the male threaded connector in the rad. The bottom tranny line should have female "quick connect" that pushes onto the metal tube in the bottom of the rad. If the female quick connect is missing, just slide the rubber hose over the tube and double clamp it.

Scorpion8

That's all explained in the top post. The top tranny cooler line WILL swap over, but the bottom tranny cooler line WILL NOT. My old radiator has the welded stub tube. The new radiator has a threaded fitting, and thus no tube to marry-up with the quick-disconnect ffrom the tranny hose.

djb383

Ok, my bad, guess they gave u the wrong rad. The correct '98 rad is shown in the pics above.