Cooling Issue

I’m running dual 10” electric puller fans on a dash switch, aluminum 3 Row radiator and a Flow Kooler pump...and it stays around 180-190. If one fan dies I’m not totally screwed. I also have a pretty upgraded electrical system (with 140 amp alt). And I live in a hot summer climate. Similar to to Scott’s set-up. I like it and it works well.

FWIW: Id consider building a solid bracket if you stay with electric. Those plastic ties through the radiator are prone to damaging the radiator and cause leaks.

 

In agreement. I have dual fan setup full shroud, a 180° tstat with the controller coming on at 190/ off low 180's ( ideally at speed the tstat and air flow should keep things regulated without fans)and a manual on switch as well. Also my fans are 2 speed. The low setting runs in automatic and manual on is high. I can also turn them off for water crossing.

 

I'm not in a place where we see 100+ temps and I'm still a hard core believer that a well designed mechanical fan in a well fit shroud is as optimum cooling as it gets. You do sacrifice several hp and the associated hit on economy (and why you no longer see that arrangement on production vehicles) but I feel it is well worth it, especially crawling around in the rock. In short, if your Jeep doesn't make a dust cloud standing still, you need to move more air. I'm also a big believer in Flowkooler high volume water pumps. Two other things that have worked well for me is a smaller diameter water pump pulley to speed it up about 15% and adding a water wetter (the stuff really does work). And my experience with aluminum radiators strongly suggests even a 2 row aluminum version is vastly superior to a 4 row brass version.

 

I like mechanical fans, but where the motor is located half would be below radiator. I can explore a larger puller fan if I can clear the water pump, it’s close. The water pump was new when I rebuilt the motor. It seems that water is being circulated. Right now I’m dead in the water. Can’t get any spark out of the distributor since last night. Going to tackle that and then continue with cooling. I’ve been working on this for years. I’m off work, so I’m trying to Use my time wisely. Thanks for all your ideas, I do appreciate them. Cole

 

That is precisely the reason for a shroud. Even a really out-of-place fan can still draw air through the whole radiator core. This is what my 3B shroud looks like-not exactly centered----

 

My vote would be to add a mechanical fan. Do be mindful with Overdrive pulleys and what the fan blade is rated for.

 

I have a Ford Taurus fan. Two speed and covers the whole radiator. Did have to make some modifications to get it to fit.

 

My shroud is off centered as well.

 

My shroud is open on the bottom. Water temp barley cracks 200 before the thermostat opens. After that its 180* all day long.
If we go to the snow I put a piece of cardboard behind the grille covering half the radiator...
Everybody has their favorites.... but I feel that the E fan is just a shortcut that WILL eventually fail. If done right, a shroud is a one time build that lasts forever.

 

Champion Radiator drop in radiator for a 69-71 CJ5 with a factory shroud. This is the original from Steve's jeep. PO chopped it up pretty good but he has zero cooling issues.

 

The trick to efficient cooling is an effecive fan, and more importantly, a shroud that covers the whole fin area of the radiator. Even those last two posted that are open at the bottom are pretty effective because all the fin area has draw and they aren't flat to the fin area.
-Donny

 

I have yet to see an electric fan that is a long term solution. I know there are folks who have luck with them, but nobody I know seems to, even in a Pennsylvania summer, not even close to how hot you get out in the desert. I have a mechanical fan and a 1985 Regal radiator cooling my Dauntless. I never got around to building a shroud and half of my fan is below the radiator, still runs 180, even pulling a camper. I would figure out a good mechanical fan, 6 blades. No issues then.

 

I used a simple design for my fan shroud. Based off of GM's radiator mounts.