Okay, so I have the main items for upgrading my cooling system and I am going to work on it this weekend. I have:

3-row CSF radiator
Hesco hi-flow T-stat housing and T-stat
New water pump

The therostat housing came with a gasket. Is there anything else that I should pick up to be prepared? Any other gaskets, hoses, temp sensor?

Thanks

 

Be ready for the lower radiator cooling line of death. If you haven't tried it before, removing the lower radiator line is going to be a big pain. Be prepared to improvise and have a lot of patience, bring plenty of elbow grease.

 

I'd suggest a new fan clutch to go with the other new parts. Removing the bottom rad hose is a piece of cake if u remove the air filter box first (3 bolts).

While both the stat and pump r off, be sure to stick the garden hose into the stat hole in the head.......and flush the heater core as well. Don't want any crud in that new rad.

 

Go through and check all of your hoses for any deterioration and replace them
check your heater control valve and flush your heater core
Also if you really want some air flow do a v8 ZJ fan clutch. It's a bit noisy though

And to be honest I'd return the 3 row if at all possible and get a 2 row

 

'97 up do not have a heater control valve, it was eliminated.

 

Ah one less thing to replace

 

'98 XJ is back on the road after upgrading the cooling system. I had a little trouble obtaining a working radiator. This shoud have been the easy part but I have to say, the water pump, thermostat and housing where all much easier than just getting my hands on a good radiator.

I ordered a CSF 3-row from a site that I learned about on the forum. I recieved not just one, BUT TWO radiators with bent filler necks. They were good about resolving it, but come on, after the first one, I think I would give it a quick visual inspection before sending it out. I cut bait on ordering one just for the sake of getting it done and ran down to my local Napa and got a stock replacement and put it in. You would think I was done there, right? NO, the first unit from Napa was plugged, like something happened in the manufacturing process to not let liquid flow through the lower hose. I guess I needed a lesson in patience or something but finally radiator number 4 works like a champ.

With the new radiator, Hesco high flow housing and 195 degree thermostat, it is running right at 210 and stays there. Used to overhead all the time so I am happy with the results.

I noticed that the electric fan only seems to come on when the AC is on. Can I wire in a toggle switch to force the electric fan to come on and stay on for slow driving or off-roading?

 

Did u replace the fan clutch? +/-$35 and 20 minutes installs a new one and u don't have to drain/refill coolant. Once the clutch is replaced, u will have the "big 4"/main cooling system components new.

 

You may want gasket sealer for the t-stat housing and water pump.