First gen. question

[spikeman2000]

Greetings fellow Dodge diesel lovers!! I'm sure this question has been asked in years past, but here goes: does anybody know if an after-market radiator is available for our first gen. trucks?? (inter-cooled) I know the stock radiator is quite large and does a good job, but on screeching-hot summer days, I could use some more cooling. Especially pulling my 24 ft. deck-over flat bed with my 93 D-350 on the back. (quite heavy!!) Any help would be great!! Thanks. ... spike,,,

 

[DVolk]

you can get a custom at any radaitor shop made for you

 

[RSchwarzli]

First off welcome and nice to see a new face in this section!

First off, do I gather you have two trucks? The 93 is on the trailer? What's pullin then?

I ask as there were two rads dodge used. The non intercooled trucks used a smaller rad vs the IC trucks. I presume you already have the better rad as you say the truck is IC so I will go off the basis of it being a 91-93.

Yes, there are aftermarket companies that can make a rad to fit. I don't know of anyone that offers/markets a "1st gen" rad, but the various companies like Griffin can likely make one.

another option of you like modifications is to install a second gen rad. It does require cutting of the rad core and also a IC change as the rad is huge. But it won't have a cooling issue!

See the crew cab thread. It shows what is involved.

Robert

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

First of all welcome to the TDR good to have another poster.



In may of 2004 I replaced my radiator on my '93 D250 with one that I bought through a radiator shop. The origional had worked quite well but did have a few leaks. I wanted a custom built one but settled for a drop in rad built in Mexico. Since I installed it it has worked very well. I too have a Horton fan and have towed my 8000lb trailer with my D250 in 100 degree weather with the fan on and have seen running temps go all the way up to 182 degrees . I turn the fan on in situations such high temps, hills (Cabbage Hill) outside of Pendelton OR and A/C on in city traffic. BTW total weight truck and trailer on the scales is about 14,000 lbs.



The numbers on my radiator - N/P Clente 732281 Valeo there is also a number just above those 1003175 13.



You might want to increase air flow across your cooling system by adding electric fans in front of the condensor. The set up I saw did an excellant job.



BSchwarzli can probably direct you as to getting all necessary parts for the Horton and either one of us can provide wiring and installation guidance. This option will not be cheap so the electric pusher fans would be a better option.



Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Electric fans are not a bad option, IMO, as you can set the thermostat to whatever you want. Flex-a-lite makes one for the later models... I'm sure they'd make one for the earlier models, and may still have the patterns.....



As for a bigger, badder radiator, I'd suggest Ron Davis Custom Race Parts..... http://www.rondavisradiators.com/Radiators.htm

They've made some oddball stuff for me when I built some tube chassis crawlers... ... . Never a crack or drip. I'm sure a first gen Dodge would be easy for them... . I'm interested, too. My '93 has a hard time with a big trailer in this heat. I have to turn the A/C off sometimes, as the fan just can't keep up. I like the idea of an electric fan, just for the A/C idling or driving in town. That'll really make the A/C work good, and reduce headpressure, which results in longer compressor life. Flex-a-lite recently introduced a line of radiator cores for aftermarket application..... I wonder if they have anything for the older Dodge?

 

[Bill Stockard]

I too had a heating problem with my '92 D350 years ago when towing my Hitchhiker fifth wheel in 95-100+ degree heat. I installed a Horton electric fan clutch which took care of the problem. It cycled on when the coolant reached 207-210 degrees and off around 195. It included a high pressure switch on the AC system that would come on when the head pressure got too high when driving in slow traffic. It also had a manual override switch so I could turn it on if I stopped at the top of a mountain pass to allow the engine and transmission to continue cooling with the engine idling. When the Horton engaged I could feel and hear it, but no more heating problems. I don't know if a Horton is even available anymore. I sold my Horton to another TDR member for his '93 when I traded for a '97 3500, but don't know what ever became of it when he traded trucks in '01.



Bill

 

[RSchwarzli]

Just a comment on the electric fans.

If you want to work your truck towing, DON'T get them. They will not flow enough CFM to cool. Even says that on their website! Lol

Horton systems are available through Turbo Auto Diesel in Phoenix AZ.

 

[Ncostello]

I just got online when I needed a new radiator for my 91 IC D250. It's been a few years... but if I recall it was no big deal finding a new one and having it shipped directly to my house.