converting to a open cooling system 89 cherokee

I have heard about this conversion and i would like to know what i need to do this to my 89 cherokee 4.0. the closed system it has , has been nothing but trouble. i replaced the radiator 2 years with a new one. it is the closed style. I read some where you can buy a tee that you cut and install in the upper rad hose and the tee has a regular radiator cap on it with a nipple to connect a overflow line to . and i also read somewher e that you can swap out the stock sealed radiator for a newer model radiator that has a filler neck and cap on it. can someone please give me some advise and guide me in the right direction. we have moved to nevada and i am worried about my wife and kids getting stuck somewhere with the jeep overheating again. thanks and hope to hear from you guys . Don email [email protected]. thanks.

http://www.jeepinjoe.com/XJ_Tech/Open_System_Switch/open_system_switch.html

Research a little before you go into this. Do you have a one layer radiator or two layer?

I've never known the open system to cool any better than the closed system. It's just that the closed system can be finicky if something is wrong, like a pinhole leak or trapped air in the system.

You can do it either way. I used the inline T and a universal overflow bottle. Works great.

I bought a new radiator from radiator barn. a new three core, for a 1992 jeep xj cherokee about 175.00 put in a new thermo and hoses and a new 4 way heater valve for a 1992 also keeps it nice and runs about 195 all the time I also have a 1988 had the same problem with the bottle and the hoses and it makes it easier to fill system. You only need a recovery bottle ,I put mine back where the old bottle was it was worth the money spent..

I did the whole thing - three core, which runs too cool for commuting, '92 thermo neck, which electrically spliced ok but the sensor is variable volt output and won't always kick in the fan relay, a '92 heater core valve, which requires a plastic adapter to convert hose sizing, and a Comanche overflow tank, that won't fit the driver's fenderwell - but does ok. The '90 wire loom is way bigger and it just won't screw down.

You must get the hose routing correct or lose 25* heater output.

Would I do it again? Only if I had known all that stuff, and the temp sensor still needs something like a 83 Chevette replacement - but that trips at 185* reportedly, still too cool. I only started the process because my factory plastic tank blew the neck off. I actually had more overheating problems directly after the conversion when I started delivering rural mail. It proved to be the thermo sensor not fully switching on, which is it's design - the Chryco OBD does the fan switching.

It's not just a "drop in a new radiator and go" kind of thing.