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YACT: Mustang cooling system upgrade...part 1. *PICS*

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Insane3D

Elite Member
Well, I was going to wait until spring to do this, but I think I'm going to need to do it soon due to a stuck open thermostat. I'm basically replacing the entire cooling system on my '92 GT.

I'm upgrading the factory radiator to a 31" x 19" X 3" thick Griffin aluminum radiator, pulling the factory belt driven fan set up, and replacing it with a dual electric replacement, new heater core (suck), autometer gauges in the dash, new hoses, thermostat, and a new harmonic balancer. I also need to pull out the remnants of the A/C system, including a A/C delete kit, new belt, and remove the compressor, condenser, and evaporator, as well as fix a leaky timing chain cover gasket...

Well, I was stuck inside yesterday due to the crappy weather, and I managed to get around to mounting the fan to the radiator. The radiator and fan are not direct fit items, and require some custom installation.

The first step was to figure how I'd fit the new fan to the radiator...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiatorfan.jpg

I figured out I'd notch one side of the shroud to clear the lower hose, and mount it to the upper radiator lip with brackets. I did some trimming with a mini hacksaw dealio I have here, and installed four brackets to the fan shroud. I then checked fit again, and marked the hole locations on the radiator...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator5.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator2.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator3.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator4.jpg

Well, since everything fit, I went ahead and drilled the holes in the radiator, and mounted it all up. FYI, drilling into a brand new radiator is a bit nerve racking...Wink

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator6.jpg

I went a bit ghetto on the bottom...but I really just needed a way to secure the lower part so it didn't flop around at the bottom end and bounce on the radiator surface.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator7.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator8.jpg

Oh, and I didn't notice this until I flipped her around...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Insane3D/Radiator9.jpg

🙂

Now, wiring is next, along with mounting two switches in the car...prolly not until next weekend though...

I thought some of the car nuts here might be interested...
 
Those are awesome fans - I run those on my Turbo Buick. I got 'em for $79.00!

They are Valeo units - OEM for some year Dodge Intrepid.
 
Yep...Ramcharger is where I bought it from...

The radiator is huge too and it was cheaper than an OEM replacement...$189. I'm going to run it via a switch perosnally since I won't need it too much up here in New England. I'll probably leave them off until it warms up to 180ish, then flick em on low and leave it. They work where there is two power wires from each fan, and giving power to either makes the fan turn on low speed, but powering both is high. I'll probably wire it with the Bosch relays I got and two switches so each switch will control a relay. I'll flip either one on for low, and both on for high. I really didn't want to mess with a temperature activated setup, just prefer this way...more control.

I'm doing all the wiring myself because I wasn't paying $60 more for their harness...
 
Originally posted by: Twista
You have to remove your A/C system? Going to be some hot summers huh? hehe
Click to expand...


Nah, actually. I've never used it in the 12 years I've owned it. It uses the old R12, and it had all leaked out. It takes a good 60lbs off the car, and cleans up the engine bay, so rather than pay for a conversion, I'm pulling it.

Plus, removing the condenser that covers 3/4 of the radiator now will increase cooling performance...
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Yep...Ramcharger is where I bought it from...

The radiator is huge too and it was cheaper than an OEM replacement...$189. I'm going to run it via a switch perosnally since I won't need it too much up here in New England. I'll probably leave them off until it warms up to 180ish, then flick em on low and leave it. They work where there is two power wires from each fan, and giving power to either makes the fan turn on low speed, but powering both is high. I'll probably wire it with the Bosch relays I got and two switches so each switch will control a relay. I'll flip either one on for low, and both on for high. I really didn't want to mess with a temperature activated setup, just prefer this way...more control.

I'm doing all the wiring myself because I wasn't paying $60 more for their harness...
Click to expand...

That's where I got mine.. Too bad they are out of business now. 🙁

Be careful with the wiring, those fans pull a LOT of amps (40-50 at start up IIRC) I've smoked many a factory relay with those.

I bought the Racetronix Turbo Buick harness, not sure if it will work with your app..
http://www.racetronix.com/RX-G7-DFH.html
Money well spent IMO
 
Actually, no, they don't pull anywhere near that much...

Ramcharger says a 30A spike from off to high, with a constant 25A. I'll be running them on low anyhow...so the spike won't be as high from off to low. Also, I have genuine Bosch 30A relays that will handle the power for each power line. When the fans are on low, one relay will be used, when high is used, two 30A relays will be used...

Thanks though...

I didn't realize they were out of business...when did that happen? I got this fan only a few months ago...
 
Super Six -

How I plan to hook them up is with two seperate relays, one for each power feed to the motors. I'm going to solder both of the power leads off the relays to a single lead of 8ga wire. I'll run that 8ga lead to the battery, with a 30A inline fuse. I'm going to control each relay independantly in the car with two blue led lighted rockers. If either one is on, the fan will be powered on low...if both are turned on, that will activate both relays and run it on high. Also, I have no plans to really run high, and if I did I would just turn it on low first, then hit the second switch...the load would be much less going from off --> low --> high than just off --> to high, and even if I did the two 30A relays would be sharing the load..

I went with genuine german made 30A Bosch relays, heavy duty relay sockets, and I will be using some high grade 8ga 1800+ strand count...possibly even 4ga..of a similar quality. I'v already replaced my OEM 75A POS alternator with a new PA Performance 120A unit, and ripped out and rewired the whole charging system. I'm comfortable with wiring, and the harness from ramcharger was much cheaper stuff, and added $60 to the cost of the $79 fan...
 
Nice! I wish all cars came stock with all alum radiators. I'm sick and tired of crappy plastic tanks with aluminum cores. If I have to change mine, i'm getting this.
 
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