Here I am

New '93 radiator in my early '91... :)

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Decided to stop pu$$y-footing around, and yanked the old standard radiator outta my truck and installed a brand new '93.

For the uninformed, the early non-intercooled '91 rigs used a downflow 2-row core with the inlet/outlet pipes directly above/below each other, encouraging "short-cycling" of coolent in an already defficient cooling system.

I read back articles on the switch, and checked at my local radiator shop - and bought a brand new '93 crossflow radiator with 3-row core for $239. Other misc. stuff ran the total expense to a bit under $300. I cut off the water outlet on the thermostat housing, turned it around to the new direction needed, and welded it back on, and used 3/4 inch pipe caps for the mounting pockets down at the bottom of the radiator, and fabricated some very simple but effective top mounts. A new '93 radiator hose, a new fan shroud and a large copper 45% elbow to complete the needed angle from the thermostat housing, and it's done!

One minor glitch was the fact that apparently the fan is positioned differently in later Dodges, and the fan must be larger in diameter - so I had to fabricate a new back plate for the shroud from sheet stock and secure it to the shroud. It came out great, and with everything painted up, looks near stock!

NOW, all I need is some hot weather and a trip pulling our trailer up the Sierras to Pollock Pines to check it all out...

One question - seems SOME guys with the later '92-'93 Dodges have 4-row radiators, some 3-row? Wonder what circumstance causes the difference?

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

[This message has been edited by Gary - KJ6Q (edited 03-25-2001). ]
 
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Gary,

Could be Auto vs Manual transmission that makes a difference. I'm on the road so can't check mine as it is at home. Trailer tow might make a difference like on the gas rigs but I doubt it on the diesel rigs.

Stan
 
Hey Gary, sounds great. One thing to watch out for - make sure you run good coolant in there, not straight water. The copper fitting you installed might make a battery with any aluminum parts in the cooling system - the aluminum parts will lose in any electrochemical battles with copper.

Scott.

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91. 5 CTD 4X4, 5" Stacks, Tweaked Pump, 33" Boots (in the summer), Unlimited Slip,
Big, Bad Dodge
 
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UMMmm - Scott - the RADIATOR itself is made out of copper, as was the original one that was in there for 10 years... #ad


But thanks for the concern!

[This message has been edited by Gary - KJ6Q (edited 03-26-2001). ]
 
I thought the rad is made out of brass?

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Mark Faught, 92 ext cab service truck and a 84 crew cab one ton dually with a 91 cummins and NV 4500.
 
The Reason that your fan doesn't line up is that the fan bearing bracket is DIFFERENT on a intercooled truck. The correct fan bracket/bearing/hub you can get from Cummins for around $230. Then you can use a OEM intercooled fan shroud from Dodge for $19. You will also need the correct fan belt as well.

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1985 DODGE 1 ton Crew Cab(imported from California with no rust) W/8' box converted to 4X4 in 1999. Converted to a non-intercooled 1991 Cummins Turbo diesel & rebuilt 5 speed Getrag in 2001(wife can't drive a stick :). Freshly rebuilt and Balanced Cummins, Rebuilt NP205, Rebuilt Injector pump and tweaked, Matched Injectors, 3" New Mandrel Bent Exhaust,no muffler, Borgeson Steering Shaft, K&N Air Filter, 4:10 gears, limited slip rear end, 16" Goodyear GSA Wranglers, 16K Reese 5th Wheel Hitch,and LE Package and a Sony CD Stereo. Next add-on some “Banks” toys ! If you want to know why I did all of this, 2 kids, one on the way and I can't stand F**d and Ch**y. Kyle Hoover ,Fruitport, MI.
 
HMMm - I was thinking that copper was used in these radiators - guess not, and will keep the electrolysis bit in mind.

And yeah, COULDA switched fan hardware - but LOTS cheaper to merely fabricate a piece of sheet aluminum ($5) using the outline of the old shroud as a pattern, and then secure it to the backside of the new '93 shroud. It came out quite nicely, and few would even notice it isn't stock. I've seen other estimates up near $1000 for this switch, and was really trying to keep the cost down without sacrificing appearance or efficiency. The needed extra copper elbow is the only visual giveaway from stock, and may splurge the few extra bucks for the '93 t'stat housing in the future.

I have all sorts of shop equipment, and have done this sort of fabrication for a living, so it really did come out well - and we're taking off for the Sierras in our 5th wheel this afternoon, so will quickly see how turning up the injector pump and the new radiator work out! #ad


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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...
 
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HOOooooKAyyy!

Just got back from trip to Pollock pines area to a campground we use - nice long steep grade ranging to 7% from Placerville to Pollock Pines - pulling our 8,000 lb 5er, 65 mph, temp in normal range the entire climb - and got nearly 16. 5 mpg for the round trip even with the turned up injector pump!

Looks like we're all set!

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...
 
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When my fan bearing went south, instead of spring $230 for a new bearing, I cut the fan off, and put 2 electric Perma-Cool fans on. Now I have over 4000cfm of cooling power on demand, and the ability to have no fan during warmup. Total cost - about $200 through Summit.
 
JSimpson -

SO, when you converted to the electrics, did you still use the fan shroud? And are you convinced the electrics provide the same or better airflow?

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...
 
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Gary,

I'm glad to see you made the change over and it worked out for you. You are one of several who have made the change that I know about.

Good luck.

Bill

[This message has been edited by Bill Stockard (edited 03-31-2001). ]
 
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