My radiator sprung a pretty big leak, so I'm gonna have to replace it shortly and I was wondering what kind of radiator I should get. All aluminum? copper brass? 1, 2, or 3 rows? Can anyone tell me what the difference is/benefits/disadvantages? My engine runs consistently hot (about at 3/4 of the gauge) so I want to get one that has the best cooling power.
Thanks,
Dan

 

I bought a CSF replacement radiator... it's a modern setup with aluminum core and plastic tanks.

It was $100 and I should get ten years out of it.

 

a 2 core rad will be just fine, some 3 core rads, while providing better cooling, some times are to wide and you might run into problems down the road. Like if your motor mounts are in shaty condition your fan might do some damage on a trail.
If your having cooling probs, I would go cheap on the rad and while you have your nose off throw a new water pump and thermostat.
Thats your best bet. Summers here and you dont want to over heat.

 

i bought a cfs 3-row from dpgoffroad and it is nice.. especially on hot days. like said above, make sure you have good motor mounts or you will have trouble with you fan hitting you bigger radiator.

 

just get a two row all aluminum rad. long island XJ is right about the water pump and thermostat. check your hoses as well. you really dont want to start overheating on the trail...that would really suck.

 

i was having rad issues and i replaced my old rad with a 60 dollar one from ebay and got 180 t-stat and swapped the water pumps and switched the mech fan for an elec one and im runnin pretty dang cool.

 

Everything above sounds good, replace t stat and water pump while you're at it.
I just got one ordered through napa, a 1 row, and it works great. I think it was about 120??
The more rows, theoretically, the more cooling, but I'm just fine with my one row.

 

Aluminum radiator one or two row is the only way to go.

 

Get a CFS 3 core radiator. You will never have overheating issues with your XJ again. They should have been original equipment.