Radiator size ?'s

[Pmaloney]

I finished my chevy cummins conversion and was looking for some opinions on radiator size. I installed a 31" x 19" aluminum should this be sufficient it is 2. 25" deep two very large cores. I'm also running 2 electric fans 4000 cfm for the pair. Thanks should have pictures soon.

 

[Pmaloney]

As a side note if this radiator is not going to be enough I have a couple of heater cores lying around would they make any difference?? So far the radiator has been good I am more wondering about towing my 30' tandem axle single wheel gooseneck. Not a overly heavy trailer. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[michigandon]

I am also using an aluminum radiator. Mine is 28"x19" (28" was the widest I could go), and I had it custom built at streetrodstuff.com. I am running a single 3300 CFM Zirgo electric fan. Can't tell you how effective it works as I don't yet have the rig back on the road, but if a setup like this can keep a 454 with a 6-71 blower cool, I don't know why it wouldn't work on one of these.

 

[michigandon]

BTW... my new radiator is not much smaller than the original 1st gen radiator, and most of those trucks were notorious for running too cold:



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[Pmaloney]

Well thanks for the info hopefully it will be sufficient, by the way how many cores is your aluminum radiator? Thanks

 

[michigandon]

It has two one inch cores, not unlike yours.



Don

 

[BJMarshall]

The size of your radiator should be sufficient. Airflow is where you may have a problem. I would definitely look at some way to get an engine driven fan on there with a good thermostatic clutch. It will move way more air than any electric fan. One other note, I used the through core plastic mounts on mine they rubbed a hole in one of my tubes. Not saying it will happen on yours, but I made some metal brackets and have had no more trouble.

Barry

 

[Pmaloney]

Thanks for the idea BJMarshall, I wondered if the engine driven fan may of been better, time will tell.

 

[BJMarshall]

I want to see some pictures! Oo.

 

[Pmaloney]

Once I get my hands on a digital camera I will shoot some pics. I am hoping for this weekend.

 

[83 crew cab]

I am running the 31x19 in the lil red with no problems so for

 

[bvanetten]

I had problems with a custom 31x19 copper radiator while pulling my last trailer (5000lbs) up hills. North of phoenix their is a several mile long 7% grade that I have to pull coming back from camping. KLast time I pulled it with the old radiator and 5000lb trailer I was 240 degrees at the top, it was about 102 degrees outside. I've reciently upgraded to an 8000lb toy hauler so I new I had to do something. I priced custom aluminum radiators that were 31x19. Way to much money and I was told that I still might have issues pulling hills heavy in hot weather. I ended up rebuilding the core support to fit a 34x21 two row (1 1/4in rows) aluminum out of a 2000 6. 5l chevy diesel. I've since pulled that hill. It was 104 outside and My trailer was about 8000lbs. I never went over 200 degrees. I'm very happy and it was worth the work. If at all possible run a engine driven fan with a good shroud. They WILL hands down out preform any electric setup you can buy.

 

[Pmaloney]

Thanks for the input. As far as cost goes my aluminum was dirt cheap (235. 00 shipped) this was from a website I found www.alumarad.com they seemed knowledgeable and it only took a week to arrive. My issue is that I used a (please dont flog me) ford powerjoke intercooler and 31" was the maximum width I was able to run, I believe I could go another 5-6" taller but then I am sure the price would go up. If I do have any issues I hope I can go the mechanical fan route or possibly run aluminum tubing down the inside of the frame rail and back and mabee that would add enough volume and dissipation to make up the all so sensitive "size" difference

 

[Pmaloney]

Sorry typed in the wrong address correct one is www.alumrad.com

 

[bvanetten]

Wow. $235 is a good price. My Chevy Diesel radiator was $295. If you are able to pull a ton of air through that radiator you might do alright.

 

[michigandon]

Well, on my setup there was just no way possible to utilize an engine-driven fan. I had to get the radiator pushed back as far as possible, and the water pump pulley is only about an inch away from the core. I also used a Ford Flowerjoke intercooler and by the time the smoke all settled the core ended up being about 1/4" behind the grille. I also ended up fabbing a bracket an mounting one of these on the front bumper (in conjunction with the fan driven "super cooler" from the donor truck. Oh yeah, there's no A/C on my rig either, for various reasons (never had dash A/C to begin with, no room to mount neither a condenser nor the compressor, the genset and the rooftop A/C do a better job of keeping the interior cool anyway. ).



Don