Rhino grill cooling for V8

[Mike D]

:confused: Do you think a rhino grill jeep...a 63 will be enuff cooling for a 283 chevy???

Its all in...and kinda running hot now for 9 months....so its not from breaking in the motor.

Is there a way to add more cooling radator area???

:confused:

[Stuka]

All SJ's used the same grill size cutout. Just a different grill on the outside. SJ's used 258, 304, 360, and 401 engines. If your 283 is running hot I dont think its because it isnt getting enough air. The radiator cutout area is just about aas big as the radiator itself, adding more wont do much.

Things you may want to check are how far fromt he radiator is your fan? Ever though of using a electric fan? Are you running the right stat, or is the stat guarenteed to be working? Does the engine have scale buildup that may be plugging the radiator to a point?

[James 007]

Mike D-

Welcome to IFSJA... I do believe the rhino grill set-up contributes to overheating. It's the main reason why they discontinued the style. Aerodynamically... it's a design flaw. I'd be willing to take the rhino grill from you... I'd like to help-out members! :D ;) :D

[Stuka]

how does it make for worse aerodynamics? And hows does a later grill let through more air through the same size hole?

[heydave]

I don't believe he is serious about the design flaw. He is just lookin to get a Rhino setup. :D

[Don S]

Originally posted by Mike D:
:confused:
Is there a way to add more cooling radator area??? :confused: Mike D.. First let me welcome you to IFSJA and a great group of people. I have not measured the area of the intake of these Jeeps but there are ways to increase the flow of air through the grill. Check out the LINK below I think it will help with your problem.. Good luck.. ;) .. ds..
OVER HEATING ?
http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw

[ July 30, 2002, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Don S ]

[Tad]

Mike D, to the best of my knowledge you are now the 3rd mike d (in some form or another) to be a member here. so welcome.
The size of the opening should not matter, I ran a 283, 350 & 307 behind a Willys truck grill (for over 20 years), with a good radiator, the correct thermostat, and fan shroud, it should not matter at all.

[Celadus]

FWIW:
I took the radiator down to the local shop (out of The 66) and inquired about a replacement.
The only ones available were 73 on up (might have been 74)
Well I thought they would be the same, but he checked.
The radiator on the newer models is about 3" wider. So I am stuck with either spend $300 on a custom or try and find a good one.

[Bob Barry]

Check the width of a '74 or newer 6-cyl radiator; they used a different front support with a narrower opening than the V-8's. It might fit better.

If nothing else, you could swap in the front support from a '74-'78 model and be able to use the newer radiator. People do the reverse all the time, so there's no reason it shouldn't work the other way around.

[Tad]

Originally posted by: Celadus So I am stuck with either spend $300 on a custom or try and find a good one. OK, I guess custom radiator prices have gone up significantly over the years but I think you should consider the options here. You can put the wider core support behind you front valance, in order to do so you need to remove the fenders, which is much easier to do with the doors and front bumper off, which is a PIA. I guess it depends on how much time you have, I would swap in the wider core support, but then I don't mind the wagon being torn apart in the driveway for a week or two.

[Mike D]

Originally posted by tadsal:
Originally posted by: Celadus </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />So I am stuck with either spend $300 on a custom or try and find a good one. OK, I guess custom radiator prices have gone up significantly over the years but I think you should consider the options here. You can put the wider core support behind you front valance, in order to do so you need to remove the fenders, which is much easier to do with the doors and front bumper off, which is a PIA. I guess it depends on how much time you have, I would swap in the wider core support, but then I don't mind the wagon being torn apart in the driveway for a week or two.</font>[/QUOTE]Well since its the only jeep that is running...it will stay, mabey ill try an electric fan as well.....cant hurt any......

And the radaitor was flushed,resolderd,and a tranny cooler put inside(for the th400)...BUT...i jerry riged the hoses......so that might restrict the flow some......hummmm....So many things to work on.....so little money.... lol

Wonder if the heater core would stand up to a high flow water pump....????its the original core.

[James 007]

You brought up a point Mike D-

Your original heater core might be contributing on your overheat prob's. It's been known to do so... electric fan is nice upgrade & try using some of those additives- Royal Purple's "Purple Ice" & Pro-Blend's "40 Below".

P.S. I still say, it's the Rhino Grill & I'll take that defective product off your hands to help you out, of course. :D ;) :D

[Mike D]

Originally posted by James 007:
You brought up a point Mike D-

Your original heater core might be contributing on your overheat prob's. It's been known to do so... electric fan is nice upgrade & try using some of those additives- Royal Purple's "Purple Ice" & Pro-Blend's "40 Below".

P.S. I still say, it's the Rhino Grill & I'll take that defective product off your hands to help you out, of course. :D ;) :D Never heard of those additives......

AND not a chance in getting it out of my hands......ill get a chevy V6(90degree) first.....and go that route...i know that wont over heat.....!!!! :D

[jode]

Originally posted by Stuka:
Does the engine have scale buildup that may be plugging the radiator to a point?Question 1. How do you tell if you have the above problem?

Question 2. If you do have the above problem, how do you fix it? (Does that Checker-auto coolant flush stuff work?) :confused:

[Stuka]

I had this problem with my mustang because it sat for 2 years before I got it. What would happen is after 2 weeks of driving the scale started to break off and plug all the tiny tubes in the radiator. If you poped the cap and looked down both ways you could see pieces fo scale/rust stuck in the holes. So I would pull the radiator and clean it after every drive I took (took 5 mins to take it out, its a 65 mustang) The holes being plugged prevented correct flow. So I got a flush kit with some special chemical to eat the rust and did that like 6 times over the course of a month.

Finally got it good and clean so it didnt do it anymore.

[Mike D]

Originally posted by tadsal:
Mike D, to the best of my knowledge you are now the 3rd mike d (in some form or another) to be a member here. so welcome.
The size of the opening should not matter, I ran a 283, 350 & 307 behind a Willys truck grill (for over 20 years), with a good radiator, the correct thermostat, and fan shroud, it should not matter at all.Now that strikes me with a question...where to get a shroud to fit it...???

[Tad]

Depends on what route you choose to deal with this problem. If you replace the core support and go with the larger size AMC radiator, then fan shrouds are available, either through a salvage yard or Brent from BJ's off road can get them for around $90-100.
If on the other hand you are going to try to get a fan shroud for what you have in there I think you are looking at a do-it-yourself job, or some custom work that probably won't be cheap either.