Radiator Swap

[thermal izod]

Hey everyone....I just moved, so my stuff in lost in the new house somewhere....I've got a cracked radiator, the side plastic crap that always cracks on these (a junk radiator, the hoses outlive the radiators these days)...it's a 2000 base model, 3.4L. While I figure out where my Haynes manual is, and await the new radiator, can anyone give me a heads up on what's gonna have to be removed/how to pull the old one, so I can start planning the job? thanks...

[maxwedge]

Very straight forward job, be care removing the cooler lines they are held in by a wire type clip, don't loose it, then it takes some umph to pull the line back out of the fitting, look and you will see.

[1996Chreokee]

if the radiator is in good shape they can put a replacement tank on them pretty cheap... but then again if your going through the trouble of taking it out a new one is probably the best solution... unless loot is an issue

[maxwedge]

Not on the plastic tanks.

[thermal izod]

thanks guys....so all i've gotta pull is the fan assembly, and the radiator itself?

[thermal izod]

does anyone know of a radiator out there that fits this car? The OEM replacements from autozone are $360, adn the same cheap plastic sided design that is leaking after only 76K miles...Anyone know the dimensions off the top of their heads, so I can look into an aftermarket that will fit? thanks...

[1996Chreokee]

Try ebay... there was a new one on there for 138 plus 16 for shipping... The last time I needed one AutoZone actually price matched the ebay price... that was the 138 + 16 so I had to pay the shipping in the price match too but I got the radiator right away... Those radiator on ebay have a warranty usually and you get them very fast usually a day or too... and yes they have the plastic sided also... I think the only way to get away from that is to have it made