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Radiator Upgrade Worth the $$$?

Old Feb 25, 2014 | 04:47 PM
  #1  
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Year: 1998
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Default Radiator Upgrade Worth the $$$?

Long story short, the wifey hit a deer and the radiator didn't live.

I've seen some direct replacements for cheap. I've also been shopping some aftermarket units. Is it worth Spending the extra $100 or so and getting a 2 or 3 row unit? The Jeep is mostly a DD, but it does see a good bit of time creeping around the woods.

Should I also spend a little more and go ahead and put in a tranny cooler too? Or would a 3-row radiator be equal to a stock radiator and tranny cooler?

Last edited by ZombieResponseJeep; Feb 26, 2014 at 07:39 AM.
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by ZombieResponseJeep
Long story short, the wifey hit a dear and the radiator didn't live.

I've seen some direct replacements for cheap. I've also been shopping some aftermarket units. Is it worth Spending the extra $100 or so and getting a 2 or 3 row unit? The Jeep is mostly a DD, but it does see a good bit of time creeping around the woods.

Should I also spend a little more and go ahead and put in a tranny cooler also? Or would a 3-row radiator be equal to a stock radiator and tranny cooler?
Did you have an overheating problem before? If not, I would just get a quality replacement and add a tranny cooler.
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by BNJeepsta
Did you have an overheating problem before? If not, I would just get a quality replacement and add a tranny cooler.
Never had any overheating issues. When off-roading in the Summer heat the engine compartment gets so hot the floor is warm. The hood vents cooled it off a lot. I just hate replacing parts when I have a chance to upgrade.
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by ZombieResponseJeep

Never had any overheating issues. When off-roading in the Summer heat the engine compartment gets so hot the floor is warm. The hood vents cooled it off a lot. I just hate replacing parts when I have a chance to upgrade.
Well then upgrade! I would go with a good radiator and the Taurus fan upgrade. That alone made more of a difference for me than anything
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 07:23 PM
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CSF or Champion radiator?:

Taurus E-Fan How-To:

Review of the Champion 3 Row Aluminum Radiator for XJ:

*Videos courtesy of Martin (Martinbuilt).
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by RubberSideUp
CSF or Champion radiator?:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jYOcDMqGvU

Taurus E-Fan How-To:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4aQqXPyQ0

Review of the Champion 3 Row Aluminum Radiator for XJ:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl1hI6cFd7Q

*Videos courtesy of Martin (Martinbuilt).
BOOM
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 07:43 PM
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 12:14 AM
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If you need one I would upgrade in a second. Its on my list of things I don't need but if I find a bargain....well. I really feel the stock setup is the bare minimum on being able to do the job and I hate radiators with plastic sides. I hope she didn't hit your girlfriend(dear) and hit a animal(deer) lol
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by turtletrax
If you need one I would upgrade in a second. Its on my list of things I don't need but if I find a bargain....well. I really feel the stock setup is the bare minimum on being able to do the job and I hate radiators with plastic sides. I hope she didn't hit your girlfriend(dear) and hit a animal(deer) lol
It was a deer, (autocorrect strikes again) lol
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 07:51 AM
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I went with a standard replacement. I have had no Overheating issues since. If you cooling system is in good shape then a factory replacement will get the job done.
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 08:12 AM
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Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
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Originally Posted by ZombieResponseJeep
Never had any overheating issues. When off-roading in the Summer heat the engine compartment gets so hot the floor is warm. The hood vents cooled it off a lot. I just hate replacing parts when I have a chance to upgrade.
Pull carpet and better insulate the floor . Proper thermostats gonna run engine at same temp no matter how much radiator you stick in there or how big a fan you put behing it....jm2cw
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 09:31 AM
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Year: 2000
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Always upgrade, unless OEM is the best option.

For radiators...OEM is not the best option.
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 04:31 PM
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Both my fans and shrouds are broken. Would I benifit from running two electric fans? If so how would I wire them up without a toggle switch? Does my 98 4.0 have a way to wire them in without getting a seperate sending unit?
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 05:24 PM
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Stock cooling fans are gonna be hard to beat cfm wise.
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Old Feb 26, 2014 | 10:56 PM
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dumb question: what is the benefit of the Ford taurus electric fan?
just bigger than stock electric fan or is it in addition to it?
just curious
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