Hey guys,
This has probably been covered before but couldn't find it in a search. I have a 1999 Cherokee Sport 4.0 automatic. My radiator started leaking a few days ago at the seam between the metal and the plastic reservoirs. Went to the mechanic, said it's a pretty simple swap so went to O'Reillys and bought the Murray replacement radiator they had listed. (Also going to grab the hoses when I get going on it.)
I noticed later that there are the double row and single row versions of this. Not sure if the one i bought will fit/work or if I need a double or a different radiator all together...I was planing on doing this tomorrow but wanted to the get the correct radiator and maybe some little heads ups if there are any.
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Are you having any heat related problems or planning major usage changes? If not, why wouldn't you just go with the stock radiator from O'Reillys that they showed you? Do you see something that suggests it won't fit? I put in the O'Reilly stock unit about seven years ago with no problems (mostly DD and occasional light towing).


The absolute best time to swap out other cooling components that may be due for replacement before long is while the rad is out, although It may not make a lot of difference if you are having the work done.

 

^^^^^What Pelican said. We bought our OE stock style replacement rad at AutoZone.....perfect drop-in fit just like the rad from O'reilly, I'm sure. And as stated, a new water pump, fan clutch and t-stat can almost be replaced/installed blindfolded when the old rad is removed 1st and the new rad is installed last.

 

Hey guys,
thanks for the feedback. The one I got from Oreilly (the one I linked in my first post ) is the "stock" one they recommended and the one I ended up buying. They just had two different ones available (double and single row) but the guy didn't know which to recommend so I opted for the cheaper of the two (the single row).
Aside from the radiator, everything else is working fine. No problems with heating system.
I'm sure it will drop in, just wanted to see if anyone can recommend the single or double row system.
Thanks!

 

Changing the water pump while the radiator is out, is a really good idea....
Last week I spent over half a day changing the water pump. Lots of "stuff" to take off, and in the way..

AND,,,I bought a NEW one, from Oreilys. Posts on here didn't have good things to say about re-builts....

 

If u look at the specs for both rads u will see that the 1 row rad (OE stock style) has a core that is 1.25" thick. The 2 row rad has a core that is 1.5" thick. However, there is most likely a 1/4" space between the 2 rows giving a total tube width of 1.25" (the 1.5" core thickness minus the 1/4" gap between the 2 rows)......or the same thickness as the OE 1 row. Virtually nothing is gained, except for an extra $97 out of your pocket and in their pocket. LOL

 

Thanks for catching that djb! Definitely going to put that $97 towards a water pump and a six pack to get me through it...
Thanks guys!

 

Ah hah, a fellow beer drinker......oh, and welcome to the madness.

 

Tube width is less important than the total surface area meeting the air. Even if the total tube width is the same, two cores are going to have more surface area to dissipate heat out of the coolant running through them than one core.

 

Might want to do a little research on modern radiator design. All auto mfgs have gone to less rows (horizontally) with wider tube design. Old school rads have a design with more rows of narrow tubes. The space between the multiple rows does nothing more than make the core thicker. The thicker the core, the more air flow restriction thru the core.

Rads only have 1 core....that 1 core may consist of a single, very wide tube design, or multiple rows with narrow tube design. Two 5/8" wide tubes have no more surface area than one 1 1/4" wide tube but that 1 1/4" tube will have more internal turbulence than a smaller 5/8" tube.

 

You know, you're absolutely right. I had to get out pen and paper to prove it to myself. Not sure what I was thinking.

 

Time for a six pack, 'cause it's 5 o'clock somewhere. LOL