Closed to open filler neck--non aftermarket?

[coolwind57]

Running to junkyard later today for a spare wheel.  Mine had rusted badly.  And I mean badly.  

 

Thinking more about opening up my closed cooling system.

 

Isn't there a junkyard equivalent to a new $30+ Moroso 63745 radiator filler neck that guys are using to convert to open system without changing out the closed radiator?  I could had sworn at one time I heard of guys  pulling OEM hose-mounted filler necks off of a dodge full size truck or something.  If there is such a beast, is it made of a type of metal and does it fit?  I've searched all over the forums, but keep pulling up the Moroso aftermarket.  

 

I think I'll go ahead and pull some good 97+ XJ heater hoses too.  i saw that one guy said the return heater hose (the 5/8" one I believe) was too short for his MJ.  Can anyone confirm this?   

 

Hate to sound cheap, but the stock 97+ heater hoses are $50+ new.  Will likely pick up a new universal reservoir and pressure cap to complete the transition.     

[Goatman]

What's the reason for wanting to go to an open system? I know it has become a popular conversion, but I've never understood why. A closed system is more efficient. Most newer vehicles come with a closed system. Most, if not all modern pickups have a closed system. My Powerstroke has a closed system. Just wondering...

[coolwind57]

1 hour ago, Goatman said:

What's the reason for wanting to go to an open system? I know it has become a popular conversion, but I've never understood why. A closed system is more efficient. Most newer vehicles come with a closed system. Most, if not all modern pickups have a closed system. My Powerstroke has a closed system. Just wondering...

 

The plastic pressure bottles of early MJ/XJs are prone to failure.  They crack and leak with age. Their lids are prone to failure.  MJ/XJ system is prone to getting trapped air in the system when you have to open it (often have to "burp" air by removing a sensor at rear of engine).  Not easier to diagnose problems, especially me who has only experienced simpler, radiator-capped vehicles since I started working on cars as a teenager.  The open system's overflow bottle concept is smart (not to mention more environmentally friendly).  By pressure-purge and suction-feed via a radiator cap and expansion tank, the cooling system always takes the amount of coolant it needs--as needs and pressures fluctuate. 

 

If anything goes wrong, the MJ/XJ closed system simply pukes it out all over your firewall and engine area via that plastic pressure bottle cap.  And you get no recovery.  Because of all of this, I would say that an open system is more efficient.

 

MJs and early XJ fixed many weaknesses after the first few years.  This was one of them when they all went to a traditional radiator cap-on-the-radiator and added a recovery bottle.  And then a couple of years later got rid of that stupid heater control valve.   

 

I'm 48.  When I first bought my 89 MJ a few months ago, I popped the hood and I was completely puzzled.  I'm afraid that I'll likely still be puzzled when I have an upcoming failure.  Everyone shade tree mechanic and his brother knows open systems.  I'm going for a system that makes the most sense instead of fighting to preserve an outdated, discontinued and failure prone (age-related) system.  For a few bucks more, I can go with what Jeep smartly transitioned to.     

 

 

[cruiser54]

The Moroso is aluminum.

 

The junkyard necks are plastic and are also failure prone. Could work for a while. 

[coolwind57]

3 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

The Moroso is aluminum.

 

The junkyard necks are plastic and are also failure prone. Could work for a while. 

 

Done deal.  I'll have my Moroso on Saturday.  Thanks, cruiser54.  

[Tj1]

Part stores should have random length 5/8 heater hose on the shelf. I got like a 5' hose for a few bucks

 

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[coolwind57]

23 hours ago, coolwind57 said:

i saw that one guy said the return heater hose (the 5/8" one I believe) was too short for his MJ.  Can anyone confirm this?   

 

16 minutes ago, Tj1 said:

Part stores should have random length 5/8 heater hose on the shelf. I got like a 5' hose for a few bucks

 

I confirmed and answered my own question when I went out to the junkyard yesterday.  The later XJs had an extended metal tube coming up from the front of engine and curving towards the firewall, hence a shorter hose needed leading to heater core.  Earlier versions had shorter metal tubes.