Which radiator? Looks like mine is starting to leak. I want something to keep my baby cool.
1999 TJ

Radiator barn.

https://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/scho...ors-35052.html

https://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/radi...d-r-36140.html

Great links!

Ok...what about the tranny cooler. I am just getting my tranny rebuilt and the guy suggested a tranny cooler. Whats the scoop?

Can you get your radiator tested? I would think you can. The reason I think it is going is that I see some green coloration on a narrow edge of the radiator and see a couple drops on the ground. Plus some very very light steam. Very light.

What is the practical difference between the alluminum and the radiator barn option 2.

The alluminum is 500 while the radiator barn is 170....

Having just having my tranny rebuilt I ordered a skyjacker tranny pan for it. (I want to keep it super cool).

You probably realize this but your tranny already has a tranny cooler, that's what those two lines are doing that are connected to the bottom of your radiator. Which also means when you buy a new radiator, make sure it's for an automatic transmission so it will have the internal transmission cooler.

I used to recommend Radiator Barn regularly but their quality seems to be pretty spotty lately. All auminum radiators are awesome but they are, as you have already found out, pretty darned spendy. I'd love one and would install one if I was made of $$$.

From what I've learned over the past few years, I'd probably go buy another OE radiator. 1), they have an all aluminum core which is superb at cooling. 2) Their quality has gotten better so they don't leak like they used to. My '97 had multiple leaky OE radiators before I finally got one that didn't leak.

The OE radiator is actualy very efficient at cooling. That it has an aluminum single-row core means its water channels are huge which helps with cooling. TJs used to come with 2-row cores, as mine did, but they went to the 1-row core for better cooling efficiency. In the case of radiators, more (rows) is not always necessarily better and in the Jeep's case, it's definitely not the case.

Ok. So I probably will go with an OE replacement then. The transmission guy is putting on the tranny cooler per his suggestion so...when I replace the radiator with a new OE do you think I can use the cooler with the OE radiator? or did I just waste 65 bucks in the paying the stupid tax?

Ok...what is the approximate cost of an OE radiator? I did a quick search and it seems to be 300ish. Ouch.

Keep using the tranny cooler that is part of the radiator, just plumb in the auxilliary cooler into the coolant line that feeds the cooler inside the radiator. I have an aux tranny cooler on mine plumbed in like that. Do NOT let the guy talk you into bypassing the cooler inside the radiator, use them both if you're going to pay to have an aux cooler added.

For your radiator, try Auto Parts Fast at RockAuto and see what they charge for the OE radiator. The dealer always goes for full list price on parts they sell.

Looks like 120ish.

I went with a becool alum radiator. This one is made to work with TJs and comes with alum brackets welded to it for bolting to the grill. It also has the tranny cooler built in at the bottom like Jerry was talking about. It isn't cheap but I got it because my old radiator was damaged in the roll. I couldve gotten another oem but wanted to get some bling. I was also concerned about the plastic top splitting on the OEM. I don't see it happen alot but twice was enough. I think it only splits open if the overflow or cap becomes blocked and the pressure has no way to release... in which case, even with alum the pressure has to escape somewhere. Oh well, I like my shiny radiator. lol.

Consider an flex-a-lite fan too, but they are expensive... maybe almost as expensive as an oem radiator, so maybe wait on that I got one to replace the motor's fan. If I roll again I don't have to worry about the metal motor fan blades puncturing the new radiator.