My radiator cracked. What's a good replacement?

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4 banger TJ

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My radiator cracked today. I've seen a hundred different brands ranging from $70-$800. I need some help making the right choice.

I have a 97', 2.5l, 5spd manual if that makes any difference.

As always, any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Mopar. Oh wait, did I mention Mopar?

Mopar.

I'll say that one more time... Mopar.

Take my word, there is NO BETTER RADIATOR REPLACEMENT THAN MOPAR :)
 
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moab said:
So if you had an auto trans and you bought the cheaper manual radiator, and used a separate trans cooler on your auto trans - you could use the manual radiator instead of the auto one?
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Im not quite sure. I have a passive auto trans cooler. But no, I don’t think so the heat will be too much, you need the radiator to cool it down and the extra cooler to reduce that
 
moab said:
So if you had an auto trans and you bought the cheaper manual radiator, and used a separate trans cooler on your auto trans - you could use the manual radiator instead of the auto one?
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Don't. Go with a Mopar made for an automatic.
 
Everybody seems to agree that Mopar is the only way to go, which appear to cost in excess of $260 on moparfactoryparts.com. You can get a similarly constructed CSF radiator from rockauto.com for $77. I've used CSF in a few different applications and they have worked as intended. YMMV.
 
Ok, there are 5 different OEM radiators, what ones are what?






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I was in the same boat. Didn't want to spend the money on Mopar parts so I didn't. The half as much new after market radiator only lasted a year. When it failed I happened to have a parts/project Jeep in the garage so in a pinch I threw that radiator in to my DD. Long story short... a 20 year old Mopar radiator was a better option than the new aftermarket radiator.

Two things I've learned on this site are when you're told to get a Mopar radiator you do it and when you're told to get your wheels re-balanced you do that too.
 
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It is easy to replace radiators for TJ.
I don't mind going for Autozone ($100) and replace it again in 5 years just in time to do coolant flush.
 
TJ2 said:
It is easy to replace radiators for TJ.
I don't mind going for Autozone ($100) and replace it again in 5 years just in time to do coolant flush.
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Until it fails on a trip or on the trails. I like trusting my parts, not wondering when it will fail next.
 
TJ2 said:
It is easy to replace radiators for TJ.
I don't mind going for Autozone ($100) and replace it again in 5 years just in time to do coolant flush.
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Duralast from Autozone is junk and radiators seldom give warning of impending doom. If you are convinced it won't blow/fail anywhere but within a quarter mile of your garage by all means buy your radiator and other critical components from Autozone.
 
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Only place a Duralast part belongs is in the garbage. Never had good luck with any of their stuff, including radiators.
 
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