RottenDog
11-12-2003, 10:49 AM
Ever since I had an aftermarket A/C installed, I have been fighting the cooling battle. I have been folowing every post and researching the archived posts on this subject for a year.
I was running too warm at 60-70 mph for my liking. Slow speed are not a problem.
I have done many things to maintain coolness. New four row, cut the wheels wells, replaced the stock tranny cooler with two coolers located in front of the empty light buckets, burped the system, new clutch fan, new fan, experimented with thermostats, one inch body lift, dual electric fans in front of the radiator (for slow speeds), etc. All these things really were only marginal help, because it still ran too warm.
Too warm for me is 205-210 without towing anything.
Today I replaced the new 195 thermostat with a new 180 themostat and drilled the 3/16 holes into the flange. I ran down the highway doing 70 mph and I doubt if the tempature went past 180 until I turned on the A/C. Then the tempature went up a hair.
I also followed Don S' idea about the air dam. I had one fabricated out of 1/8" plate that was 18" long and 6" wide with gusseted flanges that mounts to the front crossmember between the steering gear and the opposite frame rail. It hangs down about four inches below the frame at a 45 degree pitch. It is held on with two bolts and can be removed in less than three minutes for wheeling. I drove down the freeway scooping air into the engine compartment with the A/C on at full blast doing 70 mph and I doubt if I hit 180.
Running to warm? Today I proved both these techniques really help to cool.
I was running too warm at 60-70 mph for my liking. Slow speed are not a problem.
I have done many things to maintain coolness. New four row, cut the wheels wells, replaced the stock tranny cooler with two coolers located in front of the empty light buckets, burped the system, new clutch fan, new fan, experimented with thermostats, one inch body lift, dual electric fans in front of the radiator (for slow speeds), etc. All these things really were only marginal help, because it still ran too warm.
Too warm for me is 205-210 without towing anything.
Today I replaced the new 195 thermostat with a new 180 themostat and drilled the 3/16 holes into the flange. I ran down the highway doing 70 mph and I doubt if the tempature went past 180 until I turned on the A/C. Then the tempature went up a hair.
I also followed Don S' idea about the air dam. I had one fabricated out of 1/8" plate that was 18" long and 6" wide with gusseted flanges that mounts to the front crossmember between the steering gear and the opposite frame rail. It hangs down about four inches below the frame at a 45 degree pitch. It is held on with two bolts and can be removed in less than three minutes for wheeling. I drove down the freeway scooping air into the engine compartment with the A/C on at full blast doing 70 mph and I doubt if I hit 180.
Running to warm? Today I proved both these techniques really help to cool.