V6 225 Cooling

My original radiator, 17 x 17 x 3 row brass and copper, is shot. $450 to recore. I elected to buy a new Champion aluminum 2 row direct replacement for $169. I don't have shroud so I am considering building one, buying one, or installing a 16 in electric fan with a home made shroud.

Building one looks plausible, but with the fan off centered and over hanging the radiator could be tricky to get a optimum air flow. Fiberglass or aluminum sheeting are viable options. Cost low, time high.

Buying one costs are 139, but is open at bottom where the fan big over hang is. Not sure how this would effect optimum air flow, but sure it wouldn't be good.

16 inch electric fan with wiring would cost $75. A simple square aluminum shroud could be made easily for a few bucks.

I'm leaning toward the electric fan, but wanted to run it by members who may have done this previously, or not, to make sure I wasn't shooting myself in the foot for some reason. The new fan is a given. The original radiator with out a shroud never over heated, but had numerous old leaking repairs, with clumps of fins missing on the bottom. This being said I believe the new radiator with a good fan and shroud will not overheat.

I run a 180 degree thermostat so if I go with the electric fan what should my electric fan setpoint be.

As always thanks for your thoughts.

 

I have a "pusher" electric fan in front of the radiator as a helper to the mechanical. I really only need it on very hot days doing slow rock crawling or long hill climbs. The cost was minimal since the electric was given to me. I bought a thermostat to kick on at 200 but it stopped working a while back. I just keep an eye on the temp gauge and hit the switch when I need it.
I am hoping to make a shroud out of aluminum or sheet metal this winter.

 

A 6 or 7 blade mechanical is generally considered better than most all except the most expensive electric fans. The 4 blade works but really not all that great unless in cooler climates.
Might do a search as there is lots of coverage on this site in the past with lots of experience here.

 

I built a sheetmetal shroud for mine which definitely helped the airflow.

 

I bought a fiberglass shroud that fits perfectly. Search and you'll find my post. Needs just paint and 4 holes drilled into the fiberglass. It handles the overhang on the fan and if I had a working temp gauge I would bet it adds to cooling capacity of the radiator.

 

Building a aluminum shroud would be a pain, especially making it fit the entire core tightly. I have been checking it out on my jeep and think the fiberglass is the way to go. The tutorials I have looked at seem very doable, just takes some time. I'm going to install my new aluminum fan with no shroud. The motor has just been rebuilt so I should get some good base line cooling numbers. In the mean time I'm going to make a fiberglass shroud and after the base line numbers are known I will install the shroud. I will post this as a new thread with the goal of actually showing what a shroud will do for cooling in the worst case conditions of a tight motor and the same ambient temp.

 

Have you run with the new radiator yet? I am running an aluminum champion radiator and a solid 15" fan, no shroud. I started with several different flex fans and had heating issues until I installed the solid fan. I now run pretty constant 185 even in 115 degree heat.

 

2 or 3 row???

 

thermostate temp???

 

I am running the 3 row. Part number CC2374. I ordered the two row but was shipped a 3 due to inventory issues. The 3 row is pretty thick, I have about 1 1/4" from the radiator core to my 6 blade steel fan. I believe that I am running a 180 thermostat. You can see some pictures of my engine compartment towards the bottom of this page in my build thread. Norcal69's Common Sense Build.

 

I just noticed that you are looking at the stock replacement jeep radiator. I am running a mopar radiator that is very close in size to the stock jeep radiator.