V-8 Conversion Cooling

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It pulls 24-26 inches and radiator hoses start collapse.I have sold many of these kits and no returns.

nice!


Start a tech thread on it please.


And, you sell them?
 
I just built a fiberglass shroud to today. I also noticed when I had everything apart my belt was pretty rough and it looked like my fan clutch was going so I replaced that as well. I had a junk yard clutch on when I did the swap and I'm pretty sure it wasn't even the right clutch. The new one I picked up from Napa really throws some air. I'm going to take it up north tonight so I'll see what it does but I really wasn't having cooling problems before other than a/c on in 115 heat so hopefully it can only get better from there.

I tried making a shroud with some old ones but I eventually gave up and just bit the bullet and made the fiberglass one. Its not to hard just time consuming but its really stout and fits perfectly.
 
just dawned on me... if we have enough room to get the engine "square" with the radiator..then maybe my issue with the fan blade hitting the lower hose may go away. Currentlyt to get it sqaure...the engine needs to move further to the drivers side.... but there is not a lof ot avaliable space.... p/s pump is relatively close to the driver side frame rail.

IF the engine moved probally 1/2 and inch that would clear...got to see what we need for room to mount shroud and what we end up doing on shroud.
 
Elbert,

Here is the first round of pictures. I basically stuck to the instructions on the DIY site. I have a custom aluminum radiator from man-a-fre (Ron Davis). I used the stock radiator mounting points to mount the shroud. Also, you notice that the shroud is in black and in red. I made two. I ended up using the red one and finished it with bondo and black paint to make it look finished.

Hope this helps you.

Chino

That looks really nice. I may try that...only one issue with that..is most likely the radiator will have to come out to mount it or to remove it? What happens if you need to change the belt...the whole thing has to come out. It looks like it would really assist cooling.

I'm hoping we can do something in aluminiumn... I may see what I can do with a shroud, just to try it out.

Thanks
 
just dawned on me... if we have enough room to get the engine "square" with the radiator..then maybe my issue with the fan blade hitting the lower hose may go away. Currentlyt to get it sqaure...the engine needs to move further to the drivers side.... but there is not a lof ot avaliable space.... p/s pump is relatively close to the driver side frame rail.

IF the engine moved probally 1/2 and inch that would clear...got to see what we need for room to mount shroud and what we end up doing on shroud.

We mounted my engine 1/2" to driver and it took a bit of work. The PS pump had to be spaced outboard of the frame using a plate spacer, and the transmission crossmember had to be machined to elongate the mounting holes. Good luck!
 
Finally got a good run on mine after getting the trans shift issue figured out. Did one day at 104F and never got above 202F with out the electric fan with the elec turned on only got to 195F. Did a long run yesterday at 100F in stop and go and only hit 198F. I am running stock mech fan and using the 16" electric as backup and shroud. My big test will be pulling my boat out here in 105-110F, but all looks good so far.
 
See my notes... hard to tell but how are you setup on the lower readiator hose clearance between fan blade. Just got the mechancical fan on...fan blade just barely rubs lower hose. My fan blade is from a 1999 5.7. But the design of the clutch and setup looks like these things will interchange with each other..the 5.7 and 5.3 and maybe the 6.0 engines, noticed the fan blade design is a little differnet in regard to the shape of the blades and maybe the number. in comparison to my engine.. What year model is your engine and are you running the matching fan blade? What's the width of the fan blade...? mine is around 19 inches. The fan clutch design between the two engines looks very smilar...with fan clutch forward.

My fan and fan clutch are from an '03 silverado. I *think* my motor is out of a truck (silverado) or van (express).

I'll go take another look at where the hose sits with respect to the fan and measure the fan diameter.
 
Ok.. we made a little headway on my cooling transformation. Got the engine fairly square with the radiator...then deicided we need to have the radiator modified. Needed smaller neck at the top so the radiator hose from a 99 GM Truck would work , and then moved the bottom neck to the far right location to give us some clearnce for the radiator fan and shroud.

Got started on the shroud and then figured we really needed to start over. TIght clearances to work with and it was decided to call it a day this afternoon and try again next week due to work schedules.

The fan shroud is turning into a pain in the @$$ but then again seems like we have to try two or three different ways of working some of this stuf.

Might be helpful to build up a full cardboard model ...going to approach it again next time with a little bit different strategy.

Once we get the shroud done...I think cooling is going to be a non-issue. I'm using a 4 core brass radiator...with fan and fan clutch from 99 SUV/Truck with 5.7 engine...fan is approx 19.5 in diameter.
 
When I made mine I used florist foam to make a mold. Looking back the fiberglass over flexible fabric might have been easier and made a better end product.
 
brass 4 core radiator installed, reduced top water neck to work with radiator hose from 99 GM SUV, moved bottom water neck to the far right to help clear shroud. Installed GM radiator fan and clutch from 99GM SUV with 5.7 vortec. Friend installed and built fan shroud. So far driving around for a combined hour or so...temp have not exceed 200F. Also engine cools off at idle..185F or so. Still more testing to see how it works but so far it works really well. Fan works well, shroud goes back to about an inch of the A/C compressor and pretty much covers the fan blades, have about 3/4 inch clearance around fan. Will post pics I just took a little later...hope they are not too dark.

Need to come up with a lower radiator hose that works well...have not found one so far. May have to go with one of those "fit-all" types and just get the right length.

I don't know why I did not do this to start with...guess I just did not pay attention to how far the radiaor fan & clutch screw down on the water pump pulley, which allows reasonable clearnce...all I can say is live and learn. I should have at least installed the fan setup on the engine way back when we initally installed the engine but hindsight is beautiful.
 
FWIW you've helped me to do exactly that, put the fan & clutch up there and look at it for clearance.
 
FYI.. I'm using OEM GM fan clutch for the 99 SUV with 5.7 Vortec. Its the style with the large single nut that screws down on the water pump pulley. Lot of threads there so it really gains some room once screwed down.

I don't look forward to having to take the thing apart though....as I may have to take the radiator out to swap out the fan or work on the front of the engine if I have to.

A/C is next on the list.
 
PICS of Shroud and setup / a little dark

see pics. Overflow hose is a temp solution until I make it work another way. Pictures are a little dark due to time of day.
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Part 2 of pics

see 2nd series of pictures.
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DSC00499.webp
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have a new A/C compressor to install shortly and hopefully A/C setup will not be too painful and we will not run into too many problems. Still debating on going R12 or R134. My friend Les gets the credit for the shroud work....and helping me with the install. Every now and then I'll think of something worth considering.
 
see pics. Overflow hose is a temp solution until I make it work another way. Pictures are a little dark due to time of day.

Your shroud looks pretty similar to the one Ron made for me at Custom Cruisers. I'm also using the factory 5.7 clutch fan but am using an aftermarket coolant bottle off the shelf of my local parts store.

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I'll have to check my receipt, but I think this is the hose I used: Summit Racing SUM-390024 - Summit Racing® Stainless Steel Flexible Hoses - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Yours is looking good.
 
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240 is high, but it depends on how long the temp stayed there.

He mentioned "on the longest of grade."
If it spiked 240 and came back down, especially loaded as he was and and the grade, I wouldn't worry about it.

What was the normal operating temp and how long did you see 240?

In all my GMs, vette, camaro, etc., the "norm" was 180-210 depending.

I've hit higher temps after a race or other beating, but it's again, only been momentary and back down to normal.

What about a redundant system. Use mech backed up by the electric?
 
Norm temps with or without a trailer is 198F-200F.
It usually took less than 30 sec to come down to normal temps...

Redundant could be made to fit in there but all that work !!!

Nice shroud work....
 
OyajiJon,

Your setup looks nice, yes your shroud looks similar. What radiator are you using. Looks like you have adapted an aftermarket radiaor. Let us know which one and how its mounted.

What are kind of temps are you seeing in normal ops? I've only had mine running for a day or two now with this setup. At extended idle 183-190F, driving down the road 190-198F or so. Have not really stressed the truck yet as far as long steep grades (don't have anything like that close). I should note that I run a 180F thermostat.

Even more important to me....(I sent you a PM). I'm looking for specific notes on how people have wired their alternator (GM alternator to Toyota Wiring Harness and Battery). What color wires from the toyota harness go where and connect to what terminals on the GM alternator and then how is that connecting to the battery. Currently I'm running a aftermarket GM single wire 140 amp alternator. I want to go back to the stock style GM alternator. Apprectiate if anyone can provide specific details on this....pictures, notes...etc. I dont want to let the smoke out of the fusable link again :)
 
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