New Jeep Owner 72 CJ6

Hello, I just purchased a 72 Jeep CJ6 with 304 v8, 3spd, 4.27 gear ratio. It was supposedly a US Forest Service vehicle. It runs around 200 degrees according to the aftermarket gauge. That seems high to me, but I have never owned anything with an AMC 304. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Jon

 

Nice looking Jeep! I have the same engine in mine [304], and I seem to remember it running hot right after I purchased it.. It actually boiled over a few times. For starters I'd inspect all the hoses, and check the fluid level. Second I'd pull the T-stat and see what rating it has, then replace it since it is already open. I would also drain, flush and replace the coolant with a fresh mix of anti-freeze,/distilled water.. I added a catch tank to mine, bought one for a later model jeep out of 4WD or Quadratech and installed it on the inner fender.. If all that doesn't bring the temps down, I'd look a the water pump.

Good luck with that fine lookin Jeep!

 

Dang, that is fine looking, nice and level, looks straight. Do much care for the barf green but hey it's been around since forever...
Hard top is nice too, does it have two fuel tanks? CJ6's are nice. Maybe next time I'll score one.

There was a gap between the grill sheet metal and the radiator when we got ours - end of May. I put a rubber flap over the top,
figured maybe an air dam was forming or bypassing the coils. It help some.
That 'chamber' behind the grill is not the best for airflow.

I just bought one of the Northern 3-row aluminum radiators, thought it would be USA made, -NOT- China...
Welds look OK under first inspection. I'm not messing around with stock radiators this time around.
I got lucky and scored a brand new double electric fan out a Ford Focus at PaP for $24.
I'm going to install next week - hopefully...
_Dan

 

Good looking Jeep!

Your engine temperature should stay at the set point of the thermostat, which is 195F IIRC. If the temperature is too high, there will be no control and the temp will rise with the air temperature and load.

I hate to jump to conclusions about anything, but it seems like all these Jeeps need a new radiator if they still have the original radiator. Radiators fill with sediment, especially if the PO has not been diligent about changing/maintaining the coolant, and has topped the radiator off with tap water for 30-odd years. Today, replacement radiators are a commodity item made in factories overseas (Mexico mostly, I suspect) and radiator service consists of replacement. My CJ-6 has a replacement radiator that I bought from RockAuto, and it seems fine. Note that, if you don't pick "all brass" you will probably get plastic tanks and possibly an aluminum core, rather than steel and copper/brass like the original.

It would also be worthwhile to flush the cooling system with chemical flush and replace the coolant. The plastic tee they sell to flush the system with the garden hose works well, but when I was done I would not leave the tee in the heater hose, as the kit instructions imply you should. Any new-old car should get all new heater hoses anyway, so that would be a good time to do that.

These Jeeps also got a fan shroud with the "heavy duty cooling" package. Replacement fan shrouds are available.

 

Thanks for the compliments. The temp runs right up to 200 and never goes over so the thermostat must be a 200 degree one. But I will service the cooling system anyway. Yeah, the green is kind of growing on me.

 

The previous owner put the tank in under the seat because the rear tank was shot. I might put a second one in the back and have dual tanks.

 

Yep Everything they said...................and Nice Jeep!

 

Hello from France; very nice and interesting Jeep. The high temp depends on many parameters. It can be the calorstat working on this temp and not before, you have to check all points one by one. You keep the Jeep like it is or you take off the hard-top (heavy) for summer?

 

I would take it off but I don't have a place to put it right now. So I took the doors off and I am running it like that right now.[/URL]

 

welcome . very nice

 

fb welcome from The First State

 

Very Nice! I even like the color.

 

Very nice, wish I had a hardtop for nine. I have a 360 in mine, changed all the water system and mine runs great now.

 

very VERY nice... best of wishes on that cooling system... looks like you got a winner there!

 

I have one on my CJ5, it really heavy, I fixed a hook in the center so it can hang up in my barn/garage and I park the Jeep under it.

 

Welcome from Ga. Very nice looking Jeep.

 

Welcome from another CJ6 owner! Nice looking "6"!

 

Welcome from Va. Good looking 6.

 

Nice 6

 

Thanks again guys. So far I have put around 150 miles on it. I even did a little stretch of expressway. It comes right up to 200 and stays right there. I really like this jeep. I owned a land rover series 2a for a while and it is nice having more power. With the 3 speed and 4.27 gears you are in high gear wether on back roads or the highway.