5.3L Vortec V8 Conversion

[Frank Z]

I'm using a Power Steering Fluid Return line, says so right on the hose.:dunno:

 

[John D]

I'm using a Power Steering Fluid Return line, says so right on the hose.:dunno:

Something has to be wrong, look it over real good again.

This should be a very rare (if ever) failure.

 

[John D]

I finally got a reply from FFDynamics regarding their 2 row radiator.

So do I take the chance and try one? Really tough question.

Does anybody sell a radiator cheaper?!?!? If you think you need a new one try it, let tme know how well it works. You and your $ can be the tester.

 

[Frank Z]

I took a look at the flex-a-lite web site.

Holy Crap are the they proud of thei radiators.

I damn near fainted.

 

[Frank Z]

Ron Davis Aluminum Radiator















$685.18 plus shipping!!

Thats roughly 75% of what I paid for the engine/tranny/harness/PCM/etc,etc,etc!!!!!

 

[kastein]

yow!

:scared:

And even worse, it's aluminum! Fine with me except on wheeling rigs, copper is great for that because you can solder it back together on the side of the trail if you take a tree branch in the radiator or your motor mounts fail and it gets chewed up.

 

[XJEEPER]

$200 for a custom alum radiator and $300 for a custom 3 fan/controller setup doesn't seem that extreme, but I'm not writing the check. I like the FF setup, maybe its just the shiney silver/red combo that bedazzles me.......

 

[hubs97xj]

Compared to the BeCool radiator for XJs with SBCs ($760+ S/H!!), the FFD setup looks like a bargain.

 

[Frank Z]

I does, but the small tubes are a concern. I'd hate to spend the coin and end up in the same place I am now.

 

[DJManche]

I've been following this thread quietly but I have to say , nice build Frank .
I love those gauges and the time you've put into this is outstanding ..

I should come check this thing out in person ..:wave1:

 

[Frank Z]

Converted the rig to run on E85.
Before:

After:

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

I haven't seen a single place that sells that trash.

 

[Frank Z]

Okie-dokie
Now back to the original topic.

Still scouring the WWW for a decent aluminum radiator....and obviously not having a lot of luck. I think I'm about ready to get ether a 2 row aluminum from FF Dynamics or a 3 row copper/brass radiator from Radiator Express (or something like that.)

 

[JJacobs]

Frank, no E85 for you until you can verify it's running at .83-.88 Lambda! Or whatever the AFR equivalent is..

 

[Frank Z]

Not a problem.
The donor was a flex-fuel rig already. All the required parts are already there.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

She's coming along great Frank! Made some serious progress since I saw it in April!

HB:us:

 

[hmdxj]

Regarding your overheating problem:

If I’m not mistaken, you’re running 2 XJ 97+ electric fans …. Right? If so, have you thought about just replacing one of them with a higher CFM fan like a Ford Taurus (91-95) dual speed fan or a Perma-cool 16 or 14 inch (2950 CFM) fan? You can use the stock mechanical fan shroud to mount it and keep the stock electric fan in its original place.

I have a feeling that setup maybe sufficient, even with your stock radiator or at worst a new 2-row standard radiator!

I say this because the 2 XJ 97+ electric fans are not sufficient to cool a stock 4.0 engine in hot climates and that's maybe the problem.

It’s just a thought …

 

[Team Willys]

Well, we bought the Novak (Griffin) Radiator for the LS2 and we are running 2 factory 97+ XJ fans. Now... we still don't have the gauges in (they will be here in a few hours), so I can't say for sure what the temps have been running at. But, it always seems fine, even in our 100* heat that we have been having. You can open the hood and it doesn't feel hot at all, just normal warm. We are going to be running this setup this weekend at the crawl, so i will be sure to let you know how it goes. The gauges are going in today, so I should have actual numbers for you.

 

[Frank Z]

The dual OEM fans cool off the motor quickly when it does heat up, so I'm fairly certain that the air flow is adequate.

A larger cooling surface should fit the bill. Now I just need to save some coin for a new radiator.

 

[kastein]

I'd buy the materials and learn to make radiators myself before I paid that kind of premium :scared: