Anyone running without a fan shroud? (1KZ-TE)

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J78

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Dec 4, 2024
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Location
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Until I can sell off one of my children to purchase a stock radiator, I've installed a Chinesium aluminum radiator from EBay. This rad won't (easily) allow fitting of the stock fan shroud.

Will not running a shroud have a significant effect on cooling? I've upgraded to a 10-blade fan, lower t-stat temp and EGR delete. Haven't been able to take it for a run, but it doesn't get over 162 on extended idling.

I'm in FL. No hills, no towing, no freeway speeds, no off-road.
 
yes it will affect the temp, how much is / will be an experiment
you could ghetto fab a temp shroud, fan blades should stick out the back 3/4 to 1" maximum i believe
 
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I think a common solution with the aluminum radiators is to fabricate a couple brackets that allow the factory fan shroud to attach to the mount points on the radiator, which unfortunately are most often not quite in the same spot. On an 80 series, I also had to trim part of the aluminum bracket where the hole was in the wrong location.

Search around - there's a thread somewhere where I posted a link to a Daiwa radiator that is a drop in replacement for the KZJ78 OEM radiator. My recollection is it cost about $600 with shipping. That was at least a year ago - inflation going one direction but the Yen/USD ratio got more favorable for buying yen based parts, so not sure where the cost would be now. It cost more than the aluminum radiators but was literally mm for mm identical to OEM and feels high quality. I don't have the link anymore so you'll have to search for the thread.
 
I think a common solution with the aluminum radiators is to fabricate a couple brackets that allow the factory fan shroud to attach to the mount points on the radiator, which unfortunately are most often not quite in the same spot. On an 80 series, I also had to trim part of the aluminum bracket where the hole was in the wrong location.

Search around - there's a thread somewhere where I posted a link to a Daiwa radiator that is a drop in replacement for the KZJ78 OEM radiator. My recollection is it cost about $600 with shipping. That was at least a year ago - inflation going one direction but the Yen/USD ratio got more favorable for buying yen based parts, so not sure where the cost would be now. It cost more than the aluminum radiators but was literally mm for mm identical to OEM and feels high quality. I don't have the link anymore so you'll have to search for the thread.
$800+ for shipping here... 😧
 
Does the chinesium radiator seller on ebay sell the additional fan shroud? (they can be cut and adapted to suit)
No. I was considering cutting mine, but would rather keep it for when I do find the correct rad.

Took it on a "shake-down" cruise today. Never went over 170°.
 
Update for those similarly situated: No shroud, E-bay radiator. Digital temp gauge never breaks 172F in FL heat/traffic.
 
Did you get your temp sensor/gauge off ebay too?
That temp reading seems low
Have you done a test with vehicle loaded and up an incline?
 
Did you get your temp sensor/gauge off ebay too?
That temp reading seems low
Have you done a test with vehicle loaded and up an incline?
No, the temp sensor gauge is a quality unit that was recommended in another thread. I also tested temp with a hand-held laser unit that I use when installing A/C systems. Thermostat (90916-03121) opens @ 169F. I also added "water wetter" to the coolant. Not a lot of inclines here (SoFla).
 
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