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  • March 28, 2024, 10:24:21 AM

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Author Topic: New radiator installation  (Read 15644 times)

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Offline vangremlin

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New radiator installation
« on: December 28, 2013, 09:58:37 PM »
My radiator had been leaking by the upper hose, so I decided to put in one of those CJ aluminum radiators that captspillane uses.  I probably could have gotten the old one fixed, but those aluminum ones just look so good!!!

Here is a peek inside the old radiator, you can see some gunk in there:



Old vs. new



New mounting holes drilled to make it work with the Eagle.  When measuring the locations of the holes, make sure to compare the holes on the old one in relation to the top of the neck, not just the top of the body of the radiator.  The neck sticks up a lot higher on these aluminum ones, and I had to switch to a regular radiator cap instead of the pressure relief one I had been using in order to get the hood to close:



Stock lower hose doesn't line up with new radiator, not only horizontally but vertically also as the new radiator outlet slopes up at a pretty good angle



Upper hose doesn't line up either, I ended up going with a flexible 15.5" hose, 1.5" diameter. Check out Continental 52415.



For new lower hose, I followed anrkii's suggestion and got 1.75" and 1.5" hoses with 90 degree bends, joined together with an adaptor from jagsthatrun.com.  It takes a lot of test fitting and cutting to make it all fit, but its doable.



Finished product.  Everything fits together and nothing leaks:     :occasion14:

« Last Edit: March 03, 2023, 09:05:23 PM by vangremlin »
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline eaglebeek

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2013, 10:06:00 PM »
That radiator looks really good!

The new radiator appears thicker than the stock Eagle radiator. Does it have a 3- or 4-row core? Are you going to use the fan shroud?
1984 Eagle Wagon, 258, auto, 2.73 gears, daily driver
1983 Eagle Limited Wagon, parts; sold
2000 Jeep Cherokee, 4.0, auto
2007 Hyundai Accent, radical downsize from minivan, wife's car and she loves it!

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."--John W. Gardner, in "Excellence: Can We Be Equal and Excellent Too?" (1961)
 
Air-conditioning is so cool!

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2013, 10:17:32 PM »
What did you use for trans cooler fittings?  Or do you have a manual trans?
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline vangremlin

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2013, 09:24:44 AM »
That radiator looks really good!

The new radiator appears thicker than the stock Eagle radiator. Does it have a 3- or 4-row core? Are you going to use the fan shroud?

It is thicker than the stock radiator.  It's only a 2 row, but the additional thickness gives additional cooling capacity.  I'm not sure the fan shroud will fit.  If you look at the mounting bracket, you'll see that the new one doesn't go up as high as on the stock radiator, which is where the shroud mounts.  I'll probably run it without the shroud and try to install it if I have any problems.  I doubt that I will, as the needle barely made it into the operating range even with the old radiator.

What did you use for trans cooler fittings?  Or do you have a manual trans?

I just transferred the fittings from the old radiator over.  Everything lines up without a problem.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Monkeyjoe

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2013, 11:05:56 AM »
Box up your old radiator and send it to Colonial Radiator in San Antonio Texas.  If I remember correct it is on Commerce Street.  They will pull your radiator apart, boil it, "Rod" it, (that is where they run a flat thin rod thru every single ribbon, then they reassemble and pressure test, and paint, all for about $60 or 70 bucks. they have a very fast turn-around of 2-3 days.  They also have a 1 year warranty on their work.  I have not been in Texas for about 7 years but they have been there forever.  They do great work. 

Then you will have a "like new" backup.

They turned my 1967 Scout 800 Radiator from a 2 row to a three row for $69.00  that gives me 50% more cooling when I am off-roading.
I JUST TELL MY WIFE "SOME PEOPLE COLLECT STAMPS"
1982 AMC Eagle SX4, (Little Beast)
1983 AMC Eagle Wagon, (Gold Digger)
1992 Dodge, Cummins, 1 Ton Duelly (Big Red)
1967 International Scout 800 (Scooter)
1988 Chevy k1500
1960 Ford F100
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2013, 11:26:03 AM »
We need to reinvigorate the member approved vendors board to save great stuff like this in one place.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline vangremlin

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2013, 11:26:36 AM »
Box up your old radiator and send it to Colonial Radiator in San Antonio Texas.  If I remember correct it is on Commerce Street.  They will pull your radiator apart, boil it, "Rod" it, (that is where they run a flat thin rod thru every single ribbon, then they reassemble and pressure test, and paint, all for about $60 or 70 bucks. they have a very fast turn-around of 2-3 days.  They also have a 1 year warranty on their work.  I have not been in Texas for about 7 years but they have been there forever.  They do great work. 

Then you will have a "like new" backup.

They turned my 1967 Scout 800 Radiator from a 2 row to a three row for $69.00  that gives me 50% more cooling when I am off-roading.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I have a local radiator shop that I use not only for radiators but for cleaning and repairing gas tanks.  I think I'll drop this one off with them so I'll have a backup.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline captspillane

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2013, 04:25:32 AM »
These aluminum radiators have such sex appeal. They"re downright sexy!
Currently Inspected and Insured as of Jan 2013:
-1985 Eagle Station Wagon 258 T5 Stickshift
-1980 Eagle Station Wagon 258 Auto Fuel-injected with GM TBI

Minor Repairs Underway:
-1982 Eagle SX4 258 T5
-1981 Kammback 2.5L Iron Duke T5

Restoration Efforts Near Completion:
-1982 SX4- 401 NV3550
-1983 SX4- 4.5 MPI NSG370 (6 Speed)

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Future Rescue Efforts- '85 Maroon SW, '87 Limited SW, '84 Limited SW, '87 4 door Sedan, '81 2 door Sedan, '88 White SW, '77 4 door Hornet, '74 2 door Hornet, '79 Spirit AMX, '81 Kammback.

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Offline rollguy

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2013, 11:54:48 AM »
Box up your old radiator and send it to Colonial Radiator in San Antonio Texas.  If I remember correct it is on Commerce Street.  They will pull your radiator apart, boil it, "Rod" it, (that is where they run a flat thin rod thru every single ribbon, then they reassemble and pressure test, and paint, all for about $60 or 70 bucks. they have a very fast turn-around of 2-3 days.  They also have a 1 year warranty on their work.  I have not been in Texas for about 7 years but they have been there forever.  They do great work. 

Although most radiator shops used to boil out and rod radiators often (they all used to be copper and brass), that service is not available in most shops nowadays.  Most radiators are plastic and aluminum, and the shops that use the chemicals and processes for dealing with brass and copper radiators are getting scarce because of environmental concerns and the cost for such chemicals.  If you have a shop in your city that has been around for decades, then chances are they can handle your pre-90's radiator.  Also, many shops do not have "boiler tanks" or "hot tanks" anymore because of the caustic nature and high cost of the chemicals that are needed to clean a copper and brass radiator.  My local shop can repair, re-core and rod any older radiator, but they can only pressure clean the inside with water (no chemicals). They don't have a boiler anymore.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2013, 11:56:23 AM by rollguy »
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1983 Eagle Wagon  Tan over Copper
1982 Eagle SX4 "ALTREGL"  (avatar photo)
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Offline carnuck

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2014, 12:12:29 AM »
What about using Jeep CJ rad hoses? I stuck the '77 AMX rad I have in my Eagle and it's too tall to work (can't close the hood all the way)
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Offline vangremlin

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2014, 11:29:22 AM »
What about using Jeep CJ rad hoses?

Thanks for the suggestion.  I just took a look online at the CJ hoses, I'm not sure the molded ones will work, too many angles to overcome and not enough space.  They also offer the flexible ones with the correct end sizes, but I think they would be too long.  I think I'll put some effort into finding a shorter flexible hose.  I'm just afraid my homemade setup may fall apart at the seams some day.

I ended up switching to a flexible hose made for a CJ. Part number is Continental 52414, inside diameter 1.5” on one end, 1.75” on the other, 13.25” long.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2023, 08:58:43 PM by vangremlin »
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline eaglebeek

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2014, 09:51:36 PM »
Although most radiator shops used to boil out and rod radiators often (they all used to be copper and brass), that service is not available in most shops nowadays.  Most radiators are plastic and aluminum, and the shops that use the chemicals and processes for dealing with brass and copper radiators are getting scarce because of environmental concerns and the cost for such chemicals.  If you have a shop in your city that has been around for decades, then chances are they can handle your pre-90's radiator.  Also, many shops do not have "boiler tanks" or "hot tanks" anymore because of the caustic nature and high cost of the chemicals that are needed to clean a copper and brass radiator.  My local shop can repair, re-core and rod any older radiator, but they can only pressure clean the inside with water (no chemicals). They don't have a boiler anymore.
Radiators for heavy-duty vehicles...trucks and buses...are still made out of copper. Shops that repair such radiators should be able to handle original Eagle radiators.
1984 Eagle Wagon, 258, auto, 2.73 gears, daily driver
1983 Eagle Limited Wagon, parts; sold
2000 Jeep Cherokee, 4.0, auto
2007 Hyundai Accent, radical downsize from minivan, wife's car and she loves it!

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."--John W. Gardner, in "Excellence: Can We Be Equal and Excellent Too?" (1961)
 
Air-conditioning is so cool!

Offline vangremlin

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2014, 09:26:04 PM »
I just wanted to add another note to this thread.  I finally "completed" the installation of the radiator - when I put it in a couple weeks ago I was missing a couple mounting bolts so it wasn't fully installed.  When I put in the two other bolts, it brought the radiator up to its final height, and I could not close the hood with the pressure releasing radiator cap I had on it.  I had to swap to just a flat one.  When I measured for the new mounting holes, I measured the old radiator from the top of the radiator to the mounting holes, and transferred that to the new radiator.  The spout on the new radiator is considerably higher than the old one, and I should have used that as a reference point.  If you're planning to do this swap, make sure you measure from the top of the spout!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Prafeston

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2014, 10:29:02 PM »
If you're planning to do this swap, make sure you measure from the top of the spout!

Good addition Dave! Bummer  you messed up. Thanks for being the guinea pig! You can probably edit your OP and make sure to add in that stipulation!
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Offline vangremlin

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Re: New radiator installation
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2014, 10:43:44 PM »
It still fit, but barely  ;)

I'll add that into the original post, thanks for the suggestion
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

 

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