What radiator is this?

[HuskerJeep]

All my new coolant system parts are arriving, and my radiator came yesterday. I pulled it out of the box to compare (it’s definitely Mopar), but it’s got the plastic top and bottom end caps. Comparing it to the one in the Jeep currently, and while it looks similar, the current one is all metal.

Any ideas what brand the one in the Jeep may be? Did the OEM ever come all metal like this?

 

[HuskerJeep]

Bump. Any thoughts?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I have no idea who made that radiator or if any TJ ever came with one made out of metal.

Is it giving you problems?

 

[Chris]

Sure doesn't look OEM to me. @mrblaine, ever seen anything like that?

 

[mrblaine]

Sure doesn't look OEM to me. @mrblaine, ever seen anything like that?

Yes, absolutely the OEM offered two versions of radiator in the earlier TJ's. I get asked at the dealer if the one in the rig I'm working on is all metal or plastic and metal every time I work on an early one.

 

[Chris]

Yes, absolutely the OEM offered two versions of radiator in the earlier TJ's. I get asked at the dealer if the one in the rig I'm working on is all metal or plastic and metal every time I work on an early one.

Glad I tagged you. That’s the first time I had seen that all metal radiator.

 

[mrblaine]

Glad I tagged you. That’s the first time I had seen that all metal radiator.

I do not know if that is the OEM one, just that they were in some rigs from the factory.

 

[Chris]

I do not know if that is the OEM one, just that they were in some rigs from the factory.

Do the earlier model metal ones have Mopar stampings on them?

 

[HuskerJeep]

I have no idea who made that radiator or if any TJ ever came with one made out of metal.

Is it giving you problems?

No problems, just pro-actively updating the cooling system. I've got 101,000 miles and have no maintenance history. I'll keep this one around for a spare though.

Do the earlier model metal ones have Mopar stampings on them?

I'll be sure to check when I take it off. I couldn't see any from what I can see with it installed though.

 

[mrblaine]

No problems, just pro-actively updating the cooling system. I've got 101,000 miles and have no maintenance history. I'll keep this one around for a spare though.


I'll be sure to check when I take it off. I couldn't see any from what I can see with it installed though.

Pull the cap and count the rows of tubes in the core. More than 2 generally means it is aftermarket and not OEM for a copper and brass version.

 

[HuskerJeep]

Pull the cap and count the rows of tubes in the core. More than 2 generally means it is aftermarket and not OEM for a copper and brass version.

Looks like 3, assuming I understand the question correctly.

 

[mrblaine]

Looks like 3, assuming I understand the question correctly.

View attachment 85729

Yep, that is 3 rows of tubes in the core which means it is not OEM.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

A point of information on the number of rows in a radiator core has no direct effect on how well it cools. Jeep went to a new radiator design around 2000 which cools better than previous years despite it going from the original 2 row design to just 1 row. That serves to blow holes in the intuitive thinking that more rows means better cooling. That definitely ain't necessarily so.