Modified bib for cooling? (8 Viewers)

[msapers]

I was laying in bed thinking about my bib this morning (I have Land Cruiser on the brain) and musing over how much of the airflow is blocked off. I was wondering if anyone had trimmed out the sections circled below for more air flow? There's also the no bezel look which is interesting too. I'm planning to use a 19x26 crossflow radiator and it seems like it would work better if air could get to it. All of this is academic as I don't currently have an engine in my truck. I'd love to see pictures of anything you've done to improve airflow. I'd also love to see rigs with no bezel.

EDIT: None of the pictures are of my truck, just stuff I grabbed off of Google.

 

[Living in the Past]

1/79+ bibs are thinner. This was done for the condenser for optional Air Conditioning. Back side the E-1/79 and 1/79+.

 

[vfrer]

Check out pics of FJ25's. They don't have bezels but have cross bars that go across the opening.

 

[Living in the Past]

Check out pics of FJ25's. They don't have bezels but have cross bars that go across the opening.

View attachment 3935958

Those are not any thinner than the 61-78 model's bibs.

 

[vfrer]

OP asked about cruisers with no bezels, was just an idea to see how it looks.

 

[Skreddy]

What engine are you planning on running? A properly running stock engine with fan shroud in place shouldn’t have any cooling issues.

 

[Living in the Past]

Really not much different than just removing the bin except the headlight shows all the mounts and adjustments.

This is an FJ25 minus the chrome rings and bars Infront of the radiator.

 

[fireflyr]

I hear if you flip your bezel it not only cools better but it also will bring praise and salutations from all the cruiser heads. Will sell higher on BAT too.

 

[fireflyr]

But seriously, I’m running a 5.3 / 4L60e with the stock Champion aluminum 3 row radiator and Spall fan and no issues with cooling. The transmission is even using the bottom part of the radiator for cooling.

Maybe increasing the airflow would be easier. Ditching the metal fan (if you have one) is smart. Landcruisers don’t look the same without their bezel.

 

[Living in the Past]

Keep in mind that the front of the hood is held down with spring loaded latches. Then supported by pads on the top of the bib. Start cutting structural bends at the bottom of the bib may weaken that support.

 

[Engineer8000]

I had this on for a while, ended up not liking the look. It was difficult finding the headlight rings and making the brackets for them.

 

[Augustiron]

^^ that looks great! Up thread I was thinking of something similar, making a couple of bars to mimic the 25 look.

@fireflyr sorry for the slight derail, but can you share a part.number for that lower hose please?

I have a different thermostat housing setup on my 5.3 swap, but I'm not sure it will work long term, looks like you found a single hose that works with the stock tstat housing?? I'd love to have that in my back pocket just in case.

 

[pb4ugo]

I didn't do it for additional cooling. Both have 350's and stk radiators. I think a mechanical fan properly placed in a fan shroud is key. Decades ago I had cooling problems. Hot sbc's and a BBC and no shroud.

 

[Engineer8000]

I still have that bib set up if anyone is interested. I went back to the stock bezel.

 

[fireflyr]

sorry for the slight derail, but can you share a part.number for that lower hose please?


Not sure if I have the part number but I seem to remember it was from a ‘94 Ford Probe. Can anyone confirm that? Will keep looking. Will look at the hose tomorrow.

 

[CruiserInProgress]

Here's one approach to increasing air flow, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it!

It's a 69 SBC "FrankenCruiser" that came as a package with my project 79. Still waiting It's turn in the back of my barn for some TLC...correction, a lot of TLC.