Bringing home a 60, untested...

[Honest Don]

Took it on its first real roadtrip for the NHRA event this weekend. Between the trip down and driving around Topeka, I averaged 16.5 MPG. Not bad for a carburetor, no overdrive, and the aerodynamics of a garden shed

I'm looking forward to what happens after I get the electric fans in. You can really feel the clutch fan drag power down when it engages.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Looking forward to the rest of the build

 

[C130FE]

Very interested. And subscribed.

 

[C130FE]

So I think all the stuff under the hood is squared away and I should be at a good point to start improvements.

I was going through the garage a little while back and came up with a couple extra 105amp CS130D alternators. The mounting ears aren't in great spots but I'm hoping I can come up with some creative bracketry. At least an LC pulley goes right on:

Why the amps? Well, I was at the local U-pull-it and grabbed a set of contour fans. It took some time but I got all the wiring back to the fuse block - the connectors, the wire, the 70amp hi/low relays, the resistor pack, the whole bit:

Oh, and I picked up this guy for a really nice price:

Nice score man. Very nice.

 

[C130FE]

Ok, so back to the alternator. I took some measurements and started making my bracket using an empty cs130d case and some allthread as a jig.

Finished product:

I picked up a bus bar (from a bus of all things) and made a little bracket for it to sit off of the battery tray. It should make a nice power point for the fans and whatever else I add down the line:

And here's everything mounted up. With the brackets, I was able to mount everything without boogering up the factory mounts or the alternator. I still need to figure out something to mount the belt tensioner, but that's not really a high priority.

You're not manufacturing those alternator brackets are you? For sale?

 

[Honest Don]

Oh, I don't know....

I suppose I could bang out a few more if people really wanted them. I'd like to try and refine the design a bit first though. Maybe after winter?

 

[C130FE]

Nice. I should have some Christmas money left over.

 

[Honest Don]

Modified a blank plate to handle a USB charge port. I tapped off of the trouble light socket so it'll charge even with the ignition off.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Modified a blank plate to handle a USB charge port. I tapped off of the trouble light socket so it'll charge even with the ignition off.

Now that is slick.

Any progress pics, or materials used?

 

[Honest Don]

well, I didn't really take any build pics, but I can show you this:


I started with a $5 lighter charger from walgreens, like so:

They come apart pretty easy and the board is compact. I clipped the LED off and epoxied the rest into the blockoff plate after cutting a slit for the receptacle. Power wires are soldered at the location of the original springs.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Then hot glued or epoxied in place. Awesome!

 

[Honest Don]

Yeah, I used clear epoxy to hold it in the blank. Im just using the existing clips to hold it in the dash panel. If it craps out, replacement blanks should be pretty easy to find.

 

[Output Shaft]

I'm looking forward to what happens after I get the electric fans in. You can really feel the clutch fan drag power down when it engages.

I was talking to a salesman at Ron Davis Radiators about... well,, radiators. He knew the FJ60 well. They make high end (and expensive) aluminum radiators for offroad racing vehicles and just about everyone. They also sell a lot of electric fan systems.
We got to talking about the FJ60 fan... and his words were, "Don't let anyone talk you into replacing the FJ60 mechanical fan with an electric one."

The reason you can feel the fan drag down the engine a bit when it fully engages is because it's pumping a xxxxload of air. No electric fan can compete with that.

IMO, swapping out the mechanical fan on a FJ60 because it drags a bit on the motor is like downsizing an alternator because you can feel the drag when charging a dead battery.

 

[Honest Don]

I was talking to a salesman at Ron Davis Radiators about... well,, radiators. He knew the FJ60 well. They make high end (and expensive) aluminum radiators for offroad racing vehicles and just about everyone. They also sell a lot of electric fan systems.
We got to talking about the FJ60 fan... and his words were, "Don't let anyone talk you into replacing the FJ60 mechanical fan with and electric one."

The reason you can feel the fan drag down the the engine a bit when it fully engages is because pumping a ****load of air. No electric fan can do that.

IMO, swapping out the mechanical fan on a FJ60 because you can feel it drag a bit on the motor is like downsizing an alternator because you can feel the drag when charging a dead battery.

I appreciate the input, but I'm already committed. I can always swap back if the results are undesirable.

 

[Honest Don]

Ok, basic maintenance stuff. New shocks, new stabilizer, and new spring bushings. Doing spring bushings sucks....

I'm not sure how to take a photo of the improved ride? best I can do is......Ok, this sorta thing didn't happen before:

 

[Honest Don]

Knuckles....

Easier than spring bushings!

 

[Honest Don]

Roadtrip to RMNP:

The High Altitude Compensator works pretty good!

 

[Honest Don]

While we were in Colorado, we spent some time exploring Pole Hill Road:

 

[stayalert]

Sweet! love that first picture in the last post…You know…..I'm guessing Mom is in the Pass. seat…And the look on her face sez……..adjust the steering column down a bit for the wee nipper...

 

[Elbert]

I would keep the stock fan clutch and cooling fan.....nothing gained by going electric. You can find more than a few threads on exactly that subject. Mechanical cooling works and works no matter the temps or conditions...etc Search the threads...you'll find plenty....even a few where fan controllers have had meltdowns...etc.

Get a new fan clutch, good fan shroud and fan and be happy...cooling works very well with stock setup....I think its almost impossible to overheat which is a good thing.