2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build

[Flyin6]

Are you going to change the oil before startup? Coolant usually finds its way into the pan when the oil cooler is pulled.

Yes I am
I will be using the recommended 5W-40 Euro synthetic. Probably get to that tomorrow...

Sponsored

 

[Stan H]

I believe stock is somewhere .040-.044 ?? Something looks a bit off there.

I set mine i think at .042-.043 I can't remember we looked it up on Spur of the moment and did what we found .they was already set really close.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I set mine i think at .042-.043 I can't remember we looked it up on Spur of the moment and did what we found .they was already set really close.

I'd have to look again for this version/year and so on, but that sounds correct.
In any case, his looked somehow wrong - like the ground electrode had been pulled up to increase the gap, not just from wear.

 

[Stan H]

I'd have to look again for this version/year and so on, but that sounds correct.
In any case, his looked somehow wrong - like the ground electrode had been pulled up to increase the gap, not just from wear.

Can that be caused by lugging ?? From pinging ? I never did lug mine always ran ths piss out of it . My #6 hard carbon on it and was at a gap of about .046-.048 the rest was less than.045 and all original. I always run 89 in mine . Always .

 

[RudeJeepin]

The new aluminum 3-core (really three tubes) looks quite nice and well built.

If you don't mind, who makes that radiator and where did you get it?

 

[Lrowe]

Great write up so far. Almost like attending a technical college and doing a tear down. Thanks for taking the time to share this!

 

[Flyin6]

If you don't mind, who makes that radiator and where did you get it?

I'll get a photo of the box/company and post tonight after the day's labor. I did a bit of a dive into the Jeep's cooling dynamics. That search led me to a group of well-built, welded aluminum units that would do the job and be stronger than the plastic stocker.
With a solid list, I used my favorite scientific method, enny-menny-minny-moe, and came up with the one that is sitting in my garage. ;-)

 

[RudeJeepin]

I'll get a photo of the box/company and post tonight after the day's labor. I did a bit of a dive into the Jeep's cooling dynamics. That search led me to a group of well-built, welded aluminum units that would do the job and be stronger than the plastic stocker.
With a solid list, I used my favorite scientific method, enny-menny-minny-moe, and came up with the one that is sitting in my garage. ;-)

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.
I plan to keep my Gladiator for a long time and replacing the plastic one is on my list of necessary upgrades.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'll get a photo of the box/company and post tonight after the day's labor. I did a bit of a dive into the Jeep's cooling dynamics. That search led me to a group of well-built, welded aluminum units that would do the job and be stronger than the plastic stocker.
With a solid list, I used my favorite scientific method, enny-menny-minny-moe, and came up with the one that is sitting in my garage. ;-)

Jeep radiators have not been known for structural strength for going on 40 years now...........

 

[RudeJeepin]

Jeep radiators have not been known for structural strength for going on 40 years now...........

I believe the CJ was the last to run a brass/copper radiator.
My 79 CJ5 still had the original radiator in it when I sold it a couple years ago.

Our current Jeeps will get all metal radiators if/when they need replaced.

 

[Flyin6]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.
I plan to keep my Gladiator for a long time and replacing the plastic one is on my list of necessary upgrades.

As promised:

Chinese company
Purchased from Amazon

 

[Flyin6]

Tonights updates, although extensive all suffer from some pretty poor picture quality. I don't know what happened...I cleaned the lens this morning, then went after it like a Beaver stuck in a log jam.

Well, getting us out of the gate. First up, I unbolted that Arcus bumper which will not get reinstalled and easily lifted out the grill

 

[Flyin6]

I just followed along step by step from Ripps install manual. For the most part it is pretty good, but I hit a snag just as I was finishing. The instructions were just not detailed enough, but we'll get to that.

After the grill goes away, you remove the cross braces, the plastic panel on either side of the radiator, then the ram air thingy, and finally both horns.

 

[Flyin6]

Next the fan comes out.

Here I fitted it to the new Chineseium radiator. The fit was perfect.

 

[Flyin6]

After seeing just how tiny the factory rad is, I got to thinking: is that new unit too thick??? It is easily double the size of the stocker.

Sponsored