Thus the adage "driving a car in reverse is like running a country based on trailing economic data". Okay, I'm not sure that is an expression, but it sounds like one. Right? Glad you got it figured out Tom.
First portion of the heat solution is now in place. Final tweaking will be when the bottom plate is made and I figure out how the side pieces need to go …. …. and the bottom plate template is started. I am studying your pictures, Sam, and modifying what you did to suit my truck. Once all the components are made I will take everything out for paint. It’ll be cool when it’s done ….
So the truth will be going to a local cruise night tonight then to cars and coffee Saturday. After that, I will be on the changes that need to be made for the cooling issue. It will require removing the radiator so an inside flange can be welded on for the mount surface fir the engine side electrical fan. I am going to initially try the 16” fan I have - it will be tight. I will also move the horns, overflow ‘em tank, and the Derate fan control all more to board of the radiator. Here’s the start of the lower pan template …. This will go over the sway bar and under the radiator with the side panels last. I am a halt here until after Saturday’s CnC gathering. I also started an insulation barrier around the shifter - I was getting a sunburn almost on my ankles! It will get trimmed down and covered by the boot with a top draw string. Then the interior is what I would call “done”.
Great idea on the insulation coming up the stick like that. I like the radiator pans as well. I think they are essential for hopped up engines to keep the air flow where it belongs. I heavily modified my lower pan after I raised my radiator 3". Otherwise the breeze would have just blown underneath it.
I just had to do it and see how it looked …. it looks great imho and Wifey loves it! I was to a cruise night last night, its first real public venue, and there was a lot of interest and questions. Tomorrow morning is cars and coffee and I wanted to put the WWs on just to change the look …..
Yea - like dressing up a shop truck or whatever vehicle you are going to drive to go out on a date ….
Thank you , gents - they look better than I expected, really. I think there is a stark contrast from the black wheels with so little chrome to the wide whites and chrome caps is what gets me. I have looked at it with all black wheels for so long, it’s a refreshing difference…..
Got to work on the truck today - fan is out …. radiator is out …. And I relocated the o-flow tank just to make it easier to remove once the radiator is in. I am in the process of locating the horns to the driver side, and I have run the horn wire from the firewall to the driver side so I do not have any wiring crossing over in front like before. I will need to have a flange welded on the radiator surround engine side to mount fan and shroud. I have a call into my buddy as to when he might be able to do that. It will be a challenge blocking the air into the radiator but I have a couple ideas ….. Making progress …..
The radiator is in for its upgrades ( inner flanges for fan mount locations and cutting down the lower radiator pipe neck - I am pushing on the cross member), wiring has been moved back, I have remounted the horns, and I have started on the vertical portions on the outer grill area …. Once I get the radiator back, I can finish the lower panel and make the upper and lower connecting side piece templates. I have a high 2500+ cfm 14” fan coming in as well as a shroud that I will need to be cut down but dimensionally will work. Things are coming together but I am running out of time with two 3-week trips coming up, Fall Carlisle, Hershey, ONSI, and a lot of family events sprinkled in between. Yep - it’s going to be nuts with not much garage time. But I will jump in here any chance I can get …. I will keep you posted …..
Got the radiator back from from having it welded, my new “slim” fan came in, and still waiting in the shroud. I remounted the radiator and I am still too close. The fan is slim but not in the right places for my setup. This forced me into looking how I can move the radiator forward simply and easily. I removed the condenser and I think I can move the radiator forward about an inch. That will give me fan hub clearance, flat surface area for the air funnel I am making, still plenty of room for the tranny cooler and condenser, and cleans things up even more. With everything removed…. …. where the radiator mounted before…. …and the new mount location … I am using existing mounts and tie in things. The cost will be two AC hoses, some flat plate, and remaking some of my front templates that will direct the air. I know this may be clear as mud but I feel like this is the best way to handle everything. Not everything always goes as planned…..
You're sneaking up on it! You keep doing so and it will be buttoned up in no time. I think all this time and effort is being well spent. No one wants a hot, hot rod. If it was stolen it would be a hot, hot, hot rod. Or perhaps a bit of an attitude would make it a haught, hot, hot, hot rod.
You are right - I hate cars that run hot. The only hot rod that has never overheated on is my avatar. It has gotten warm but that’s about it when coming through New Mexico and I got hit with a tumbleweed - that stuff got into everything! That flattie is just one, chilled, little motor - Bonneville, across the desert to the LA Roadster show, Texas and the Lone Star Roundup …. always ran cool. Yes, sneaking up on it is accurate - very accurate! Lol! I am just hoping this is finally “it” but if it isn’t, I’ll do something else to get it done is all …..
I am not an electric fan fan, man. I took my 442 out to dinner a couple of weeks ago, the radiator got hot and decided to spew green crap out the seams in the older aluminum radiator. While I awaited a new radiator from Summit I tracked down the fan issue to a failed sensor in the intake. What a bother! When they work they're great but mechanical fans are the way to go if you can.
My fan has a sensor. It never runs unless I'm in stop and go traffic. Yes, I had a sensor fail once while on a trip. I now have an unused ground wire located so I can unplug wire from sensor and wire it direct to ground. Then the fan can run continuously, when ignition is on.
I just leave my fans on all the time. I can't always count on the sensor to turn it on for me, so leaving it switched on saves me that panicked feeling when I look at the gauge and discover I am near boiling temp.
As do I. In fact that switch helped diagnose the issue. The fans worked when the switch was on so I knew the sensor was not grounding the circuit. If you have to have an electric fan you should have an override switch.
Had a little time today to make the driver side radiator bracket …. The wood piece was to keep it snug to the outside of the radiator surround. The two outside holes I made by lining up the original bolt locations - that is what those two bolts coming through from the back side indicate. I can now trim them off ….
The radiator is moved and in …. … and it fits all around pretty well. The radiator will also install easier from the front - just take off the outer most 2 nuts from each side and once all is disconnected, it will slide up and out with the fan and shroud on it. The new mounting will also simplify shrouding up treads not the funnel the air in. Ok - now to clean up ….. Btw the core of the radiator is 3.5” from the fan hub bolts with only 3.25” needed. The fan hub will sit below the water pump hub so it gets even better if you can see that from the pics. I also just got my shroud in so we are getting closer. I will be away for a bit but at least I know all can move forwee are rd no problem ….
Looks good so far! I think you will be a lot happier (and cooler) with that fan pulling air rather than pushing it. You have room for a steel fan and shroud now too if you ever decide to go that way.
The Jalopy Journal
