Cars House

Hello all, I managed to get a stick or stump up into my radiator fan while I was wheeling through some swamps last weekend and it bent a blade and sent it digging into and halfway through my radiator, leaking out all the coolant.

I have the stock 2 row/core radiator from what I can tell. My question is, should I upgrade to a 3 row/core radiator or go with an aluminum one? Is there an advantage to aluminum radiators versus stock, other than just weight? Also, I noticed the 3 row radiator is cheaper than the 2 row at Auto Zone. Does the 2 row actually cool better or something?
I debated this for months when I was doing my rebuild. The aluminum will be lighter, and dissipate the heat better since the modern radiators are not pure copper as far as I know. That being said, I could not justify the high price for the aluminum, when I knew others on here went 3 core with a 350 and had no problems. I just purchased the SBC Swap rad from jeepdoc for my swap, I would say with a 6 cyl, you would be fine with a stock type or 3 core radiator. My $0.02!
Personally I would opt for the standard 3 core. Aluminum is pricey and to me is just asking for the same thing to happen if you wheel it.
If your tanks are still in good shape, you can probably have it re-cored for less $$. I did that with my stock 3-row 11 years ago and haven't had a problem with it at all.
If your still concerned about cooling, they do make a 4 row for jeep. I got mine from Orielly's in the Automatic version. When I swapped in the SB350 I had a Rad Shop convert it for the new engine. He couldn't believe I had a 4 row, his books didn't show it but he called his supplier and they had it. I now have the SB350 and swapped out the auto tranny, I run a 180 degree thermostat and never get above 185.

Also, fyi, I've found the radiator shops have better prices than the parts stores.
Mine is an 80 CJ-5 with 258 and have been running stock 3 core radiators for over 20 years and have never had any cooling problems. Even while plowing through soft beach sand during our hottest months, my temp gauge has never gone up to more than slightly past midscale. I have the factory HD 7 blade fan with shroud and run a 180 degree thermostat.
Well, the reason I was asking was that a fellow Jeeper had told me there was someone over on the east coast of Florida selling aluminum racing radiators for $225, and he just put one in his YJ. It would be a hella drive for me, but for $225 it may be worth the gas to drive over and pick one up. I just wasn't sure whether aluminum radiators were one of those gimmicks they have nowadays that are expensive and not worth a crap. I may give him a call and see what he says; if it's a generic type radiator I may just go with an OEM 3 core or 4 core.
I had mine recored. They talked me out of a 3 row for my 258 by saying they have newer tech cores that have 25% more cooling than stock. Well my temp gauge went down 25% with it, so they were right. I also have heavy custom side straps that they kept on laughing about me never snapping 'this' one in half again. (snapped the old one on both sides with frame flex, it is freestanding with my one piece front clip)

One thing about brass cores, they 'can' be trail fixed so when you put that tree or branch right through the center or snap the rad in half and blow some cores out, a torch and some solder has you back running in short order. Been there, done that, waaay too many times. ;-)
Mike,
You're right about copper/brass radiators being more repairable. That is something to be considered.
Well, I'm going through planning some armor around my radiator and engine bay right now so this isn't going to happen again hopefully. I'm also going to go ahead and flat-fender my CJ reluctantly because I ended up denting a fender...