87 radiator swap

Wanting to get rid of coolant bottle on firewall and install a real radiator with a cap, any suggestions if a 95 or in that era fit into my 87 ?

Yep, did it to my 89 MJ with the radiator out of my old 01 XJ. Just needed to grab som heater hose lines from the local parts store. I still need to figure out a heater control valve for it, but I have a huge "to-do" list of other mods before I get there.

i have done this.a 91 and up radiator will work no problem. if you want to run the factory fan temp switch that goes in the radiator. the only radiator i found was an all aluminum 1 1/4 single core hgh ieffecincy radiator for a 91 and up Cherokee.i used the factory heater valve as there is a restrictor on the by pass circiut. i jut cut part of the tube . i also removed the other t piece that went to the bottle and used a universal heater hose t and ran a piece of heater hose to make the bypass. i did a lot of research on this because i removed the factory heater valve and used a 96 heater valve.i could not figure out why when the summer hit it would run hot on a warm day or run hot when the rpm's were about 2700rpm. the head design is different on a 91 and later. the earlier ones need the restrictor in the heater control valve or they flow too much hot coolant back into the engine. .hope this helps

dreedy660 said:

Wanting to get rid of coolant bottle on firewall and install a real radiator with a cap, any suggestions if a 95 or in that era fit into my 87 ?

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A real radiator?

I guess my F350 diesel doesn't have a real radiator, since it is a closed system with a plastic expansion tank.

BTW, ton's of info out there on this subject.

Goatman said:

A real radiator?

I guess my F350 diesel doesn't have a real radiator, since it is a closed system with a plastic expansion tank.

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well....it is a ford so since its not a real truck it probably doesn't have a real radiator.

Sorry Richard. Couldn't resist.

i have found that the only real problen with the early exspansion tank system is they have a weak/poor quality design tank. the tanks used on all the newer vehicles have much better designed tank. as a option you maybe able to install a tank from a another closed type system and make it work. i didnt try it.

And they trap air bubbles in the system like no other.

When i bought mine I just swapped out the plastic tank for the Mac's aluminum one. Problem solved in less than 5 minutes as it's a direct swap.