71 Wheeling Rig

Thanks for the nice replies all.

It's a Griffin universal cross-flow radiator with a 21" wide by 19" high core. I got it from Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-25222-X

I needed a cross flow because the V8 puts the radiator on top the cross frame. I didn't want to completely cut out and move the cross frame so I can't have a lower tank and get maximal core area. If you have a V6, you're probably better off with the Champion factory 22" wide replacement radiator: CJ5 CJ6 Radiator (70-71) Buick V6. It's only a slightly smaller core area (374 vs 399 sq inches), but is a bolt in for 69-71 grills with the wider radiator cowl.

I put one of those in my '69 and quite like it too (I painted it black for a more original look):

 

Thank you I'm putting a 327 I'm my pile of parts.

 

One of the reasons I picked this particular radiator is that it has angled bottoms on the tanks to clear the shock mounts:

 

Roy last year when we were in Colorado my jeep got a little hot on some of the hills we climbed. I was thinking of put a different fan on the V6 like the one you put on your V8 you are building. Do you think it will make a difference when going real slow uphill?

 

I've got the Champion aluminum radiator, a reproduction shroud, and the stock 4 bladed fan on the 69. It also ran noticeably hotter on those long climbs but didn't overheat. Part of my problem is 3.73 gears with a T-14. My crawl ratio is only 30:1 so I was basically at idle the whole time and the fan wasn't spinning very fast. I think lower gearing would help some just to get the engine speed up.

That said, a 6-bladed fan like the factory heavy duty cooling package had would help a lot. I measured an extra fan I have an it looks like the factory fan is a 15". You really don't want a fan like the one I put on the V8. It's a low profile fan because I have no space. As a result it won't flow as much air as other styles.

A fixed blade fan like this is very much like the original 6-bladed fan: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all30102


Some people prefer flex fans. The flexible blades can be more aggressive to more more air at low RPM, but flatten out at high RPM to reduce power loss. Something like this might be your best option and is certainly cheap to try: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-17015


That's what I would put on the V8 Jeep if I had room.

 

Wow thanks Roy. I am going to do that for this years Colorado trip. I will post my findings this summer.

 

Those flex fans slice skin like a cheese grader. AMHIK.

 

This is true. At least the old school steel ones mostly leave bruises.

 

Yes! Please post your findings.

 

On my jeep, I found that with the solid 6 blade fan I did not need a shroud even in 110 degree heat.
With the flex fan I needed a shroud to pull enough air at moderate rpm.

 

That's good info. I've heard other people say flex fans don't flow as much air at low speed as fixed fans. I've never had the opportunity to do an A/B comparison. Renegade II, you may want to get the fixed blade fan and not the flex fan.

 

Flex fans can be an issue in deep water crossing also. I was going to try a clutch fan but never got around to it.

 

This is actually what led me to building my shroud. I ran the fixed blade fan for a couple years and never had heating issues. I got tired of how noisy the fixed blade fan was...... so I changed to a flex fan..... but then it overheated bad..... so I bought a bigger flex fan but still overheated. I eventually went back to the smaller flex fan and added the shroud. No overheating issues whatsoever.

 

Yup! They distort and eat radiators amhik...

 

This is all good info and why this forum is so great. Thanks all!

 

I have a 5 blade asymmetrical, fan on my '66 Dauntless. It's wonky looking, but I like it. You think this is the stock factory V6 fan?

 

I thought the original heavy duty fans were 6-bladed, but I'm not 100% sure. They may have been 5-bladed. I know Rubicloak has a couple for his Ren I restoration. He might chime in.

 

Replying to myself. Here's a vintage Jeep post card with a 5 blade fan shown so I'm most likely wrong about 6 blades:

 

I found out the hard way on Deer Valley Trail one summer. A couple hours later and a bunch of bent fins and we were good to go. That radiator lasted at least 10 more years.