I'm sure there are more people having thoughts like this, me just could not figure out how to find a post about.
Here is the plan:
We wanna put a nice custom front bumper to my 96 zj 4.0. Looking at it for hours, I always miss liked the extended radiator below the frame reducing the skid plate angle. Also the coolant spots below but that's minor.
Today I escorted a buddy to the junk yard and while nothing else to do I did some measuring figured that the XJ radiator will fit exactly, but in width ;-). Some cutting left and right, the crossbar from the XJ merged with the Hood lock from the ZJ and imported as well. Mechanically it should be possible (with a vision).
Anyhow here are the issues I would like to ask for help:
1.) Probably easy,
The AC fittings at the ac compressor are different. My thought is that there has to be some pressure resistant fitting to connect plain 3/8" and 1/92" aluminum pipes?? Cut the to pipes on a stretch and reconnect them with the popper fitting. Any hints how those connectors are called? Or would that be to easy?
2.) Bigger one,
my ZJ has an Auxiliary cooler connecting to the radiator, but the XJ rad has no inlet for that , ...yet? There is a kind of mark/ nubsy for an extra hose prefabricated by the looks. Can this access to the radiator be made? Can the auxiliary line meet the cooling system on a different spot (Hose, Pipe)?
3.) Last but not least,
is it a stupid idea after all? The vent on the ZJ sits more centred so there is no room for the second electric vent, what is usually added in a XJ. Would you add a custom shroud and lead all air to the one vent, put a smaller vent to the same shroud, or just assume it is going to be ok because half of the old radiator was solid baked in mud anyways and worked well?
If this doesn't make sense to anyone I may have a very decent XJ Radiator assembly with all hoses and crossbar attached ;-).
The action will lift the lower radiator edge above the "frame", to allow for a hidden winch between rad and a slick one piece Skid plate.
To bad I can't get the radiator pic uploaded to show what pipies and marks tf I'm talking about, but I'm sure you can guess ;-).
Thanks,