Hot Rods 1937 Dodge Ol Bessy is Coming Home....redux

Good progress on cooling today. Just a simple idle speed airflow issue...e.g. very low air flow. As such the power hog electrical fan runs quite a bit.


For the *****, a 16 in fan with steep pitch was installed closer to the radiator and I swapped in a larger crank pulley for a factory like 18% overdrive of the pump and fan. I have another upper pully to take it to 30% but dont think it'll be needed.


The new mechanical fan actually ****s a hand towel flat against the radiator at idle. Before, the smaller one struggled to move tissue paper.


I was able to recalibrate the auxiliary electric fan to 200f on and 190f off.


Hot days are coming so we'll see how this works. I have an average 60 degree temp drop from top to bottom of the radiator now.


If all is well, I may switch over the winter to shrouded mechanical and place the radiator back into the factory position (its 4 in fwd now to allow for the electric fan). Big job, so a good winter project. The electric could be disposed of or reversed as an auxiliary pusher.


Time for a drive in heavy traffic. I think idle temps will be steadier now with much less electric fan action.

 

Got real busy today and pulled out the entire electric fan ***embly. The new mechanical freewheeled the electric and overall it was hell for loud.

I like the looks of the engine bay better now and have plenty of room. I left the radiator forward mounted and have good access for making up a shroud and I can probably fit a slightly larger fan too.

Raining now but riding tomorrow.

 

Fuel mileage was down 2 mpg this tank. Stopped to fill her up and as the tank topped off the ground got wet. Sending unit gasket has failed. Lady next to me asks, as I'm finishing up clearing the pump area, "is that gas leaking out?"

Rocket scientist there, no doubt. (A wry smile breaks across my face as I once again commence pondering the pros and cons of eugenics).

We got home, so now to drain out 20 gallons of gold to do the fix.

 

Tanks fixed and....

Regular tornado under the hood now. 1/8" abs sheet and some hardware.

Tons of air flow. Even at idle a towel sticks in place even all the way up at the top.

I can finally feel hot air out the louvers (also at idle) on the hood sides. I think we are ready for summer.

 

Big break upgrade today. Started with a 7 in dual booster and a 4 to 1 ratio. (cause I didnt think larger would fit and with the firewall moved to the rear, there is no room for the 6 to 1 ratio pedal that a 7 inch dual needs to stop a big car. I was at 4 to 1, so an instant deduction of 1/3 of my available leverage.)

It worked ok. Fine for around about driving but a panic stop was more like a moderate level of slow down with a pedal that just hit the wall and wouldnt ever make enough pressure to really dog down the disc and drum brakes.

Heres where i started today. 7 inch dual diaphragm booster, relegated now to small light cars and firewalls that have room for a much longer swing.

 

And here's where i finished up. Tuff Stuff (american made) 9 inch dual diaphragm booster. 65% more booster area than the 7 inch dual and about 5 to 10 percent more area than a single diaphragm 11 inch booster. By rough calculations line pressure should have increased from 900ish lbs to about 1400-1500 lbs. I had to give Ol Bessy 2 beers to get her to take the upgrade, a snug fit but I wrestled it in and had it up and working in 4.5 hours, including pedal free play and booster pin adjustment.

Figuring it would work fine, I hammered the gas backing out of the garage and then pounced on the brake pedal. Stopped on a dime! And I didn't have to use my Steve Austin Bionic Leg! So, i did it again, same result....then twice forward, same result. Seems easy to modulate, no wall, not touchy at all.

Can't wait to take a ride tomorrow.

Now that's a booster!!!

 

I’m really digging that color!

 

Mopar color. PB5 electric pearl blue

 

They work pretty amazing now. Like modern car brakes. I don't mind learning as I go but brakes is one I like to have got right real early in the build, like before getting on the road. Lesson learned, plan for and fit the bigger boosters and save the tiny 7 inch for lightweight or all drum cars