1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Radiator/ Fan Clearance Issues??

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by bnorth10, Jun 27, 2007.

  1. Jun 27, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    Anyone know who has the smallest clearance yet highest cfm electric fan out on the market? My M38A1 has a small block chevy with an aluminum radiator. I have a fan on the outside of the radiator. I only have about an inch and a half of clearance at the fan pulley due to the M38A1's recessed headlights. The one 15" fan works well enough at road speeds but at slow speeds on hot days it runs warm. In normal running conditions it always stays at 210 degrees no matter what thermostat or changes I have done in the past. I have been fighting it for over 5 years and cant stand it anymore. Any help is appreciated??
     
  2. Jun 28, 2007
    Hawkes

    Hawkes Member

    Nova scotia
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    490
    I had very little clearance, and went junkyarding to find something to fit. The slimmest one I could find was an '89 Dodge Spirit V6. It covers the Dauntless V6 rad from top to bottom, leaves a little rad exposed on the sides. Not only is it slimmer than most, it has no frame support on one side of the fan motor, which I put at the bottom, and that cutout sits where the water pump nose is, so the water pump is actually under the fan's motor. It cools my GM 4.3 just fine, 180ish in the woods and 200 on the highway, outside temp 75-85 F.

    Paul
     
  3. Jun 28, 2007
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
  4. Jun 29, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    Tell me more about the Dodge Spirit and where would be a good place to find one or do you maybee have pics? I love the chevy V8 power but sometimes it sure isnt worth all of the trouble. The 12" fans look like they could work but I think that is still too wide for my clearance.
     
  5. Jun 29, 2007
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    I did have too cut down the grill a bit. Most people with V-8 have to cut the grill back more than I had to. My brother has a V-8 in his 55 M38a1. He has his crossflow radiator over the front crossmember. He's running a custom 5 row industrial radiator. He also has a 1" flex fan between the radiator and the motor. For extra cooling he has an electric fan between the grill and radiator.
     
  6. Jun 29, 2007
    Hawkes

    Hawkes Member

    Nova scotia
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    490
    My grill shroud is cut back flush with the headlight buckets, the rad frame sits against the back of the buckets. I can get pics on Sunday when I get home.

    Paul
     
  7. Jun 29, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    That would be great. My grill is also cut back to the headlight buckets and would like to stay with that grill if at all possible but I did contemplate getting a CJ5 grill to give me that little extra bit of room but I really dont want to. I am running an aluminum radiator and with the grill cut down, my radiator sets just on the crossmember. I have about an inch and a half of room to work with from my rad. to my fan pulley:(. The only fan I have is about a 15" one between the grill and radiator and it does a good job but just not near enough for a slow grinder. If it only saw the street it would probably work.
     
  8. Jul 1, 2007
    Hawkes

    Hawkes Member

    Nova scotia
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    490
    It's not as narrow as I thought, but it is narrow compared to anything else in the junkyard. Here's a few pics:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I think you can also get a narrower water pump to give more room, but that would mean changing other pulleys or brackets.

    Paul
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2007
  9. Jul 1, 2007
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    What do you have? Crossflow radiator?
     
  10. Jul 2, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    Thank you very much for the pictures Paul. I appreciate it. It looks good. How many inches wide is that? I will take a picture tommorow and post so you guys can see my situation.

    My radiator is an aluminum cross-flow radiator
     
  11. Jul 3, 2007
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    My thought was that. If you had two smaller fans. You could gain more clearance by having the water pump between the fans.
     
  12. Jul 3, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    Yes I also thought about running two smaller ones. Do you run shroud with your fans? Also what kind are they or where did you get them? Many people say a shroud makes all of the difference. I will get a pic of my application today.
     
  13. Jul 3, 2007
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    Here is some pictures of how I mounted my radiator. The shroud is made out of 18 gauge steel and the radiator mount is out of 2"X2" angle iron. I didn't like the idea of mounting it to the grill. Seems to work really well even when hard 4wheel'in.

    http://groups.msn.com/ScottMilliner/fanshroud.msnw?Page=1
     
  14. Jul 8, 2007
    bnorth10

    bnorth10 Wicked Willys Customs

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    Messages:
    128
    Here are some pictures of my problem:
     
  15. Mar 14, 2008
    spud

    spud Nope..it's not finished!

    Augusta Co. Virginia
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2003
    Messages:
    311
    Ok, I know I'll get flamed for this but I still gotta ask. What direction do you push or pull the air from? I don't know why this is confusing to me, but I just need to see it in writing. Do you push/pull from the engine side or the grill side. Which is it????:?
     
  16. Mar 14, 2008
    farfle

    farfle old dog

    Mariposa, CA
    Joined:
    May 14, 2007
    Messages:
    430
    If I were going to install electric fans, I would set them up to pull cool air from outside the jeep into the engine bay. Push fans aren't nearly as efficient as a pull fan. Trying to push air from the hot engine bay against the incoming flow while moving the vehicle forward seems counterintuitive to me. Placing pull style fans on the exterior of the radiator will block airflow. I've seen it done, but the other way would be better, IMO.

    I'm sure others will disagree....
     
  17. Mar 14, 2008
    High5

    High5 Member

    Urbandale, IA
    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2005
    Messages:
    802
    Having a shroud makes a big difference. I would try and put a shroud on there to direct flow throught the radiatior. Also, make sure you have the fan turning the right direction:)

    High5
     
  18. Mar 14, 2008
    spud

    spud Nope..it's not finished!

    Augusta Co. Virginia
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2003
    Messages:
    311
    So I guess the answer is to mount the fan on the back of the radiator pulling the air in from the grill.
     
  19. Mar 14, 2008
    endless expense 45

    endless expense 45 Oldsmobile RTI Ramp!

    Stony Creek VA.
    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2005
    Messages:
    175
    Spud you can mount them either way ,A pusher mounts in front of the radiator and pushes air through the radiator and a puller mounts behind the radiator and pulls air through the radiator. Your stock fan would be a puller and this picture is a pusher. Hope this helps!
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2008
New Posts