The radiator was finished nicely, the aluminum shined good enough for a show car and the welds flowed beautifully. Putting the new and old side by side gave me more of a perspective of the obvious differences. The Champion was “bigger” in every aspect. The mounting brackets were solidly welded to the unit where the factory radiators aren’t and can crack over time. And it was much “cooler” looking than that old black piece of painted brass.
A radiator swap on a CJ or Wrangler is a piece of cake, a few hours at the most, a job that anyone with a few simple hand tools and a repair or factory service book can easily do. The old radiator was already out, the new Champion radiator was dropped in and fit perfectly. The electric fan was bolted in place over the radiator and we were almost ready.
After the hoses and transmission lines were reconnected the radiator was filled with coolant. The new cap supplied with the radiator sports a nice Champion Cooling Logo adding that custom touch to the install. The entire install took about an hour and went perfectly. How does it work, GREAT! My initial test showed temps around 200. A far cry from the 220+ I was experiencing prior to the swap.
Champion also has radiators that will fit Jeeps converted to Chevy engines. They have been expanding lately and also carry shrouds, overflow tanks and electric fans ranging in size from 10 to 16 inches.
Ready to move up to aluminum? Check out their website at www.championcooling.com
Related – Fuel Economy Tips
* Published by JPFreek Adventure Magazine – The leader in Jeep and adventure enthusiast publications.
Pages: 1 2
