New Radiator to be installed, what else should be done at the same time?

[rkhough19]

My jeep is a 85 CJ-7 AMC 258 In-line 6, garaged in Lancaster.


  I just pulled my old radiator from my CJ. It was leaking pretty good and after trying some leak stop a few times it finally kicked the bucket. While I have the radiator out of the way is there anything else that "should" be replaced at the same time (ie. water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses, etc..)

  I will be replacing the radiator. Any suggestions on a type? I believe the one I pulled is a 2 core radiator, is it worth stepping up to a 3 core? Is it worth getting an "all aluminum" new radiator?  Do I need or should I have a fan shroud?

  Thanks,
  Ryan
 

[etaucher]

The shroud helps direct the cool air right into your radiator, without it the air just kinda blows everywhere.

[CJ8Ted]

I have an "85" and had my tanks rebuilt with a 3 row core. The extra room that the third row took up made my stock fan RAM into the rad on its first off highway romp. I had to go to an electric so this would not happen again.
 
1. New cap, I like the 'Stant Lever Lock' You can open a system that is hot if you need to, and makes burping a little easer. 
2. New thrmostat, cheep why not.

As for belts, hoses, water pump, its your call if they look/feel bad and you got the $ swap them out, if there in good shape, run them.

Flush the block w/ clean H20, you dont want any crap in the new rad.


Ted

[rkhough19]

 Since I have the old radiator off already, is there a way to flush before I hook up the new one? Or should I have done this prior to removing the old radiator?
  As you can see this is a total learning experience for me, and I love to gain as much knowledge as possible. Thanks for kicking some my way!!

[CJ8Ted]

Your ok, just fill the block w/ a garden hose, flush untill clean. I fill it from the bottom hose till it comes out the t-stat hose.
Ted

[rkhough19]

 Ted,
    In the articles that I read on flushing they say that you should have the engine running until you reach normal temperature. What you are saying is to flush the block out with only using the force of the garden hose with or without the engine running? Doesn'tt he engince need to running to pump the water (flush) through?
   Shoot the hose in through the bottom radiator hose and collect the waste from the top radiator hose? Right???   
  Keep in mind that this is all new to me and I am sort of reaching the extremes in my auto mechanic abilities here. So explaining it to me like I am a 5 year old does tend to help me understand it better!!!
  As always thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated and needed! Thanks brother.

[CJ8Ted]

When you put it all back together you will need to get it up to oper. temp. to burp the system but I see no need to now. It would be very hard anyhow.
Claim as much coolant as you can untill it is rather cleen.
 I have started the engine while using the hose but it makes more of a mess and don't let it get hot while flushing with a cold garden hose. No good for the block.
It will flush fine by not even starting the engine IMO.
Pull heater selector to hot. This will open the heater core and you won't forget to do it when you burp the system when you put it all back together.
 I shove the garden hose in the bottom rad hose (smashing hose around nozzle to form a seal so it dossent just flow back out) run water untill it comes out the top rad hose.
Pull garden hose out let gravity do the flushing. Repete as many times as nessary.
I also take the overflow bottle off the fender and wash that out real good.

HTH
Ted