Defective Champion radiator? (ec583)

[76cj7chick]

I purchased a Champion brand radiator from off line and have been struggling to get the hose to reach without touching the power steering belt. Anyone have a champion radiator (particularly the champion radiator ec583) installed or a picture of it out of the vehicle?
The one I received looks slightly different than the ones in the ads.. It appears to have a really tight upward turn to the outlet.

Photos would be very appreciated!


I previously had a vista pro 3 core rad in my CJ7 but couldn't fit a fan between it and the pulley (less than 2" of space) The vista pro also has a upward turn to the outlet but not as sharp upward...

I've contacted the company that sold it to me but they said they're still waiting to hear back from the manufacturer... Its been a few days since I've heard from them. And when I emailed them again they reported haven't heard from the manufacturing company still. And that I could return it for a refund less shipping... But if it's a manufacturing defect, why would I have to pay shipping? (I purchased off amazon through radiator crew-if anyone is curious or have had experience with them)

Thanks hope someone has a picture...
(I've attached some pics) As you can see the black rad -vista pro bottom outlet is not as sharp of a turn upward as the champion -aluminum radiator. Also, I can't get the champion to set all the way back to the grille.. If anyone has an idea on how to do so, please share this info with me -since I would like to have more space between the radiator and pulley so I can install a fan.

Anyways enough of the gibbering...

 

[IOPort51]

do you have a body lift??

I do, and found that if you lift the body you must drop the radiator an equal distance. The radiator has to line up with the engine not the body

If that does not help I am clueless.

 

[Torxhead]

Is that a v8 radiator? as a guess. Too bad about the customer service you got. If you can't get any help on that, it might have to go to a radiator shop that does aluminum welding. Another thought would be to contact Champion directly.

 

[76cj7chick]

do you have a body lift??

I do, and found that if you lift the body you must drop the radiator an equal distance. The radiator has to line up with the engine not the body

If that does not help I am clueless.

To my knowledge the jeep doesn't have a lift.

 

[76cj7chick]

Is that a v8 radiator? as a guess. Too bad about the customer service you got. If you can't get any help on that, it might have to go to a radiator shop that does aluminum welding. Another thought would be to contact Champion directly.

Hey Torxhead, Actually the radiator is for the I-6.. But yes.. Still haven't heard back from the company.. I may have to communicate with amazon. But, first want to see if it will work... I'd rather have the aluminum radiator over a plastic one..

 

[76cj7chick]

I've adjusted the powersteering pump bracket and the radiator may work. But still, the lower outlet looks too steep in an upward turn...

If anyone has a picture of the same radiator PLEASE post a picture od the lower outlet :dunno:

 

[IOPort51]

the top of your radiator is a lot higher than mine. and mine is a lot closer to the power steering hoses on the bottom. are you having any problem closing the hood? Can you drop the radiator down some? re drill the mounting holes in the radiator upward an inch or two?

I guess I am trying to say that it needs to mount where it needs to mount to work. If, as I think I can see, you have the room to move it down before hitting the power steering hoses, just drill some new holes.(and be kind of disappointed in the radiator mfg. for not returning your call.)

I guess I would prefer Al. to plastic but could you not find a copper radiator for your 76??

 

[Torxhead]

It looks like getting that radiator to fit correctly is going to be a challenge. It looks like you are going to have to lower it as IO pointed out, if you go to far there will be problems with hitting the power steering lines, if you have those. Getting all four of the hose ends to line up will be fun also. Here a body lift might be something to consider.

 

[oss]

This is how mine looks. Hope this helps: I do have a 1" body mount lift.

 

[76cj7chick]

the top of your radiator is a lot higher than mine. and mine is a lot closer to the power steering hoses on the bottom. are you having any problem closing the hood? Can you drop the radiator down some? re drill the mounting holes in the radiator upward an inch or two?

I guess I am trying to say that it needs to mount where it needs to mount to work. If, as I think I can see, you have the room to move it down before hitting the power steering hoses, just drill some new holes.(and be kind of disappointed in the radiator mfg. for not returning your call.)

I guess I would prefer Al. to plastic but could you not find a copper radiator for your 76??

I wish I could lower the radiator but its already touching the tops of my power steering metal lines.. Perhaps I can bend the power steering lines a bit? I just don't want to break anything.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I will take another look at the jeep this weekend and see if I can make any adjustments. Also, my radiator doesn't touch my hood.. I checked.

I'm replacing a 3 core copper/brass radiator with the 2 core aluminum.. I was hoping to get more room for a mechanical or electrical fan unit, as I currently don't have a fan...

 

[76cj7chick]

It looks like getting that radiator to fit correctly is going to be a challenge. It looks like you are going to have to lower it as IO pointed out, if you go to far there will be problems with hitting the power steering lines, if you have those. Getting all four of the hose ends to line up will be fun also. Here a body lift might be something to consider.

If I remember, the radiator is currently sitting on top of my power steering steel line..
I'm going to check it out again and see if I can move the lines out of the way somehow..

Wish me luck.

 

[76cj7chick]

This is how mine looks. Hope this helps: I do have a 1" body mount lift.

Thanks for the photos!

Looks like my new radiator outlet does turn faster/higher than yours.. But, Boy! I guess they are all really close to the belts..

I hope to take another look this weekend to see if I can make it work...

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I will let you know if I can get it to work... :wasted:

 

[76cj7chick]

Is that a v8 radiator? as a guess. Too bad about the customer service you got. If you can't get any help on that, it might have to go to a radiator shop that does aluminum welding. Another thought would be to contact Champion directly.

Hey Torxhead,

I know this is a old thread, but I'm still having difficulty in getting the radiator to fit properly and since it's been driving, the hose is getting "plumper" (it's not a CJ7 specific rad hose, because the stock hose wouldn't make the tight angle.) Anyways, I'm worried how close the lower hose is getting to the belt. Just wondering if you have ever corrected a radiator inlet? I've been reading up on brazing/welding aluminum and it doesn't appear to be hard.. Not like steel welding anyways.. And I have experience in soldering wires and such.. So, thought if you know how I would go about removing and re-welding the inlet to a straight way?
Don't know your personal experience with aluminum welding rods, but Harbor Freight has a pack of 8 for around $16 and I can get a propane torch (if my pencil torch doesn't get hot enough) and remove the weld myself. I am up for the challenge... Just want to make sure the welding rods are up to par and won't fall apart... Please share any personal aluminum brazing/welding you may have.

Thanks and sorry for the short story...

 

[Torxhead]

Sorry, but my only experience with welding radiators is with acid core solder and propane cans and a torch fitting, and not the fancy aluminum jobs. Looking at your first set of pics, moving that fitting along with getting a hose that fits is going to be quite a project. I would suggest first finding a hose then moving that inlet fitting into a position that works is what you have to do. Hopefully you can find a hose on the long side and trim it to fit. When I installed a 1" body lift, it did help with getting things to fit in that area also.

 

[Torxhead]

Looking again at your pics, you might be able to move things around for a better fit. Like moving the radiator back a bit with washers as spacers. The lower inlet could be bent a bit to move the hose away from that belt, the hose looks a bit short on the radiator end also. The radiator could be lowered if that would help and those power steering tubes can carefully be bent.

 

[76cj7chick]

Looking again at your pics, you might be able to move things around for a better fit. Like moving the radiator back a bit with washers as spacers. The lower inlet could be bent a bit to move the hose away from that belt, the hose looks a bit short on the radiator end also. The radiator could be lowered if that would help and those power steering tubes can carefully be bent.

Hmmm. Good to know Torxhead...
I was able to put a mechanical fan in the jeep.. But it now has very little clearance between the fan and rad... I may try to first bend the lower inlet/outlet.. I may also start a new thread to see if anyone has experience in brazing/welding aluminum rads..
Thanks again for your help.

 

[gr8dain]

This past summer I had my mechanical fan wear a few hole in my radiator because it was too close. I ended up getting a champion aluminum radiator and electric fans. Still really close but the fan won't be drilling into the radiator at least.

I remember the install of the radiator was not super roomy, but it worked out a lot easier than yours. I will try to look and maybe snap some pics tomorrow.

 

[76cj7chick]

This past summer I had my mechanical fan wear a few hole in my radiator because it was too close. I ended up getting a champion aluminum radiator and electric fans. Still really close but the fan won't be drilling into the radiator at least.

I remember the install of the radiator was not super roomy, but it worked out a lot easier than yours. I will try to look and maybe snap some pics tomorrow.

Pictures would be great... As I originally was thinking about using electrical fans but decided that a mechanical fan would fit better and I didn't know how to fab a electric fan shroud up...

 

[gr8dain]

Pictures would be great... As I originally was thinking about using electrical fans but decided that a mechanical fan would fit better and I didn't know how to fab a electric fan shroud up...

Ok. I will try to get some pics this morning.

As for the shroud, I bought the fans made for the contour that had the shroud built in. But It is still a tight fit and I had to trim some of the plastic as the mechanical fan mount was hitting the shroud. Oh well. It may not be pretty, but it works.

Here are some pics. I tried to get some general ones and some in the areas you are asking about. Let me know if you want any specific additional pics.

 

[76cj7chick]

Ok. I will try to get some pics this morning.

As for the shroud, I bought the fans made for the contour that had the shroud built in. But It is still a tight fit and I had to trim some of the plastic as the mechanical fan mount was hitting the shroud. Oh well. It may not be pretty, but it works.

Here are some pics. I tried to get some general ones and some in the areas you are asking about. Let me know if you want any specific additional pics.

Wow! That is a tight fit... Your radiator looks thinner than mine... Is it a two row? Mine is supposedly a two row (3/4" wide each row). Your lower outlet doesn't look as bent up as my radiator's outlet... I may take some advice and try to bend it down a bit... Looks like your power steering lines are very close to the radiator too... It looks like your hose is swelling at the top too like mine... Boy, wish someone would make an actual (economical) proper fitting radiator for our peeps...

Thanks for the pics. I will see if I can bend the inlet tube.. But I don't want to break it and then be covered in coolant...

Thanks bunches for the pics...:rock: