Leak where lower radiator hose connects to engine, how does it connect to block and is it difficult to repair the leak?

Before you go replacing a radiator, you need to check out why the quick overheat. Most likely due to low coolant which indicates a leak. Yes the core could be leaking...but it is not the most likely problem. If there is coolant dripping from the lower hose, it could be a simple matter of the lower hose clamp just needing to be tightened. They do work loose occasionally. Check the clamp, and tighten if needed. With the vehicle cold, check and refill the coolant in the both the radiator and the reservoir bottle. Run the vehicle to normal temperature and observe all connection points. IF no leaks are seen, use the vehicle normally and monitor coolant level for a week or so to ensure that you have solved the problem. If you are still loosing coolant, but have no visible signs of loss (drips or puddles under vehicle), then the problem could be a worn out water pump. They often tend to leak only when running and the lost coolant often evaporates on the engine block out of sight.

Find the lower radiator hose where it leaves the radaitor. Follow it to the lower engine block. The lower hose is connected to the t-stat housing. See the NOTES below for special instructions.

To Remove:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   WARNING
   Do not remove pressure cap with the system hot and under pressure because serious burns from coolant can occur.
   
2. Drain the cooling system.
3. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
4. Detach the electrical connectors from the engine oil and power steering pressure switches.
5. Disconnect the radiator and heater hoses from thermostat housing.
6. Remove the thermostat housing bolts.
7. Remove the housing, thermostat, and gasket.
   
   NOTE The OEM thermostat is staked in place at the factory. To ensure proper seating of the replacement thermostat, carefully remove the bulged metal from the thermostat housing using a suitable hand held grinder. It is not necessary to re-stake the replacement thermostat into the thermostat housing.
   
   To install:
   
   1. Thoroughly clean the gasket mating surfaces.
   2. Position a new gasket on the thermostat and housing.
   3. Install the thermostat housing, gasket and mounting bolts onto block. Tighten attaching bolts to 105 inch lbs. (12 Nm).
   4. Install the radiator hose.
   5. Install the bypass hose.
   6. Connect the negative battery cable.
   7. Fill the cooling system. Start and warm the engine. Check for leaks.
   
   

• The lower radiator hose just goes to the engine block. Go to your nearest parts store and buy one. When you get home make sure that it matches the one you're about to remove.

1. Have something to catch the radiator fluid as you pull that radiator hose off.
2. Now route the new one. Fill the radiator with antifreeze. Turn the car on and the defrost on high.
3. This is a must to open the thermostat and burp any air out of the system.
4. After the engine cools down, re-top off the antifreeze and top off the reservoir.
5. The job will be completed at this time.
   

Check this procedure for Canyon, Colorado 2004-2005 - Removal & Installation

1. Drain the cooling system.
   
2. Raise and support the vehicle only high enough to access the thermostat housing through the wheelhouse.
   
3. Remove the left wheelhouse liner.
   
4. Remove the radiator inlet hose from the thermostat housing.
   
5. Remove the thermostat housing bolts.
   
6. Remove the thermostat housing from the engine block.
   
7. Clean and inspect the thermostat housing.
   
8. Clean and inspect the sealing surface of the engine block.

To install:

1. Position the thermostat housing to the engine block.
   
2. Install the thermostat housing bolts and tighten to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
   
3. Connect the radiator inlet hose to the thermostat housing.
   
4. Install the left wheelhouse liner.
   
5. Lower the vehicle.
   
6. Fill the cooling system.
   
7. Inspect all sealing surfaces for leaks after starting the engine.

1. Drain the cooling system.
   
2. Raise and support the vehicle only high enough to access the thermostat housing through the wheelhouse.
   
3. Remove the left wheelhouse liner.
   
4. Position the hose clamp pliers to the clamp to remove the radiator inlet hose from the thermostat housing.
   
5. Remove the thermostat housing bolts.
   
6. Remove the thermostat housing from the engine block.
   
7. Clean and inspect the thermostat housing.
   
8. Clean and inspect the sealing surface of the engine block.

To install:

1. Position the thermostat housing to the engine block.
   
2. Install the thermostat housing bolts and tighten to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
   
3. Connect the radiator inlet hose to the thermostat housing.
   
4. Install the left wheelhouse liner.
   
5. Lower the vehicle.
   
6. Fill the cooling system.
   
7. Inspect all sealing surfaces for leaks after starting the engine.

Hope helps (remember to rating this answer).

3.2L & 3.5L Engines

1. Disconnect negative cable
   
2. Drain cooling system.
   
3. Raise vehicle on hoist.
   
4. Disconnect electrical connectors from engine oil and power steering pressure switches.
   
5. Disconnect radiator and heater hoses from thermostat housing.
   
6. Remove thermostat housing bolts.
   
7. Remove housing, thermostat, and gasket.
   

To install:

1. Position gasket on thermostat and housing.
   
2. Install thermostat housing, gasket and mounting bolts onto block. Tighten attaching bolts to 105 inch lbs. (12 Nm).
   
3. Install radiator hose.
   
4. Install bypass hose.
   
5. Connect electrical connectors from engine oil and power steering pressure switches.
   
6. Connect negative cable.
   
7. Fill cooling system.
   
8. Inspect for leaks.
   
9. Lower vehicle on hoist.
   

Find the location where the upper radiator hose connects to the intake manifold of the engine by tracing it from the radiator to thermostat intake housing bolted to the intake.

2 Remove the radiator hose from the thermostat intake housing by loosening the band clamp that secures it into place. With the clamp loosened, pull the hose off the housing.

3 Remove the two bolts that secure the housing to the intake manifold and then lift the housing off the intake.

4 Lift the thermostat out of the intake manifold and place the new thermostat into the hole. The end of the thermostat with the pin protruding from it sticks out of the intake manifold.

5 Lift the thermostat intake housing gasket off the intake manifold and place the new one onto the intake manifold.

6 Place the thermostat intake housing onto the intake manifold and bolt it into place. Reconnect the hose using the band clamp.

Six-Cylinder Engines

1 Drive the Dodge onto a set of front-end ramps and secure the parking break. Allow adequate time for the radiator fluid to cool down. Thirty minutes is usually adequate.

2 Loosen the petcock on the lower right hand side of the radiator and drain all of the radiator fluid into a drain pan. Close the petcock once drained.

3 Trace the lower radiator hose to the location where the hose connects to the engine block. The metal housing the hose connects to is the lower thermostat outlet. Remove the hose from the outlet by loosening the band clamp and then by pulling the hose off the outlet. Be careful--some fluid will drain from the hose.

4 Remove the two bolts that secure the thermostat outlet to the engine block and pull the thermostat outlet off the block.

5 Discard the O-ring inside the bottom edge of the thermostat outlet and place a new one into the outlet.

6 Pull the thermostat out of the engine block and replace it with a new one. The end with the pin protruding from it sticks out of the engine block.

7 Place the thermostat outlet onto the engine block and secure it into place. Reattach the lower radiator hose with the band clamp.

8 Open the radiator filler cap located on top of the radiator and fill the radiator with the fluid previously drained from the system.

please dont forget to give good rateing thank you

1988–91 Models

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Properly drain the cooling system into a suitable container.
3. Disconnect the fan motor and motor connector.
4. Disconnect the upper and lower radiator hoses.
5. Disconnect and plug the automatic transaxle cooling lines at the radiator, if equipped.
6. Disconnect the coolant reservoir overflow hose.
7. Remove the radiator attaching bolts and brackets.
8. Remove the radiator with the cooling fan attached.
9. Remove the cooling fan and shroud from the radiator. NOTE: Check all cooling system hoses for any signs of damage, leaks or deterioration and replace if necessary. To install:
   
10. Attach the cooling fan and shroud to the radiator and install the assembly.
11. Attach the radiator bolts and brackets. Tighten the radiator bracket bolts to 7 ft. lbs. (10 Nm).
12. Connect the coolant reservoir overflow hose.
13. Connect the automatic transaxle cooling lines to the radiator, if equipped.
14. Connect the upper and lower radiator hoses.
15. Connect the fan motor and thermo-switch wire connector.
16. Refill the system with the proper type and quantity of coolant, check for leaks and bleed the cooling system.
17. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Fig. 7: Cooling system components — 1988–91 engines
    

1992–95 Models

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Properly drain the cooling system into a suitable container.
3. Disconnect the fan motor and motor connector.
4. Disconnect the upper and lower radiator hoses.
5. Disconnect and plug the automatic transaxle cooling lines at the radiator, if equipped.
6. Disconnect the coolant reservoir overflow hose.
7. Remove the radiator attaching bolts and brackets.
8. Remove the radiator with the cooling fan attached.
9. Remove the cooling fan and shroud from the radiator. NOTE: Check all cooling system hoses for any signs of damage, leaks or deterioration and replace if necessary. To install:
   
10. Attach the cooling fan and shroud to the radiator and install the assembly.
11. Attach the radiator bolts and brackets. Tighten the radiator bracket bolts to 7 ft. lbs. (10 Nm).
12. Connect the coolant reservoir overflow hose.
13. Connect the automatic transaxle cooling lines to the radiator, if equipped.
14. Connect the upper and lower radiator hoses.
15. Connect the fan motor and thermo-switch wire connector.
16. Refill the system with the proper type and quantity of coolant, check for leaks and bleed the cooling system.
17. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Fig. 8: Cooling system components — 1992–95 engines
    

all you should need is a screw driver, a pair of plyers, a ratchet, and some sockets

If you're running it without a thermostat it's clear there isn't enough/any coolant circulating through the block. When the motor is running are the hoses off the radiator soft and flexible or stiff. If they're soft there's no coolant flowing through them. Chances are the radiator core is bad or there is a crack in it somewhere. Have it removed and tested.

The 2.7L engine lower radiator hose, connects to the thermostat housing.

To Remove:
1.Disconnect the Negative battery cable.
(Engine COLD!)

1. Drain cooling system.
2. Remove radiator lower hose from thermostat housing.
3. Remove nuts from heater tube flange studs.
4. Loosen starter bolt at heater tube bracket.
5. Pull heater tube out of thermostat housing and position out of the way.
6. Remove bolt and two studs.
7. Remove thermostat housing, O-ring and thermostat.
8. Remove thermostat housing bolts.

To install:
A.Clean gasket sealing surfaces.
B.Install thermostat with the bleed valve located at the 12 o'clock position, between tabs on seal.

1. Install thermostat and seal into thermostat housing .
2. If removed, install two studs.
3. Install thermostat, thermostat housing and O-ring and bolt. Tighten attaching bolts to 105 inch lbs.(12 Nm).
4. Lubricate new heater return tube O-ring with coolant.
5. Position heater return tube flange over two studs. Install nuts.
6. Tighten retaining nuts to 53 inch lbs.(6 Nm).
7. Tighten starter bolt to 40 ft. lbs. (54.3 Nm).
8. Connect the lower radiator hose to the thermostat housing. Install hose clamps.
9. Refill cooling system.
10. Inspect for leaks.
11. Connect negative cable.

3.2 and 3.5L engines:
Disconnect the battery cable. (Again engine COLD)

1. Drain cooling system.
2. Raise vehicle on hoist.
3. Disconnect electrical connectors from engine oil and power steering pressure switches.
4. Disconnect radiator and heater hoses from thermostat housing.
5. Remove thermostat housing bolts.
6. Remove housing, thermostat, and gasket.

The OEM thermostat is staked in place at the factory. To ensure proper seating of replacement thermostat, carefully remove the bulged metal from the thermostat housing, using a suitable hand held grinder. It is not necessary to restake the replacement thermostat, into the thermostat housing.

To Install:

1. Position gasket on thermostat and housing.
2. Install thermostat housing, gasket and mounting bolts onto block. Tighten attaching bolts to 105 inch lbs. (12 Nm).
3. Install radiator hose.
4. Install bypass hose.
5. Connect electrical connectors from engine oil and power steering pressure switches.
6. Connect negative cable.
7. Fill cooling system.
8. Inspect for leaks.
9. Lower vehicle on hoist.

From AutoZone Repair Guides

I feel this way, I can give you an accurate description, and have taken into account your safety.