Hood Louvers For Cooling

[Paveltolz]

Originally Posted by dixiepc

Paveltolz,

Not meaning to get off on something else but where did you get that wench bumper and do you have some more pictures of it?

There's some pictures on this Diesel Place thread post 2835, about mid way down the page. Before and after. More insanity stuff I do on the next page...way off topic.

To keep on the OP's topic though.
The green truck here is 635's. His louvers are top mounted only, Large Size from Runcool too. They are in the back corners and these work like the side louvers do on my truck, air pushes out at speed.

[Stratosurfer]

Thanks Paveltolz, I think those louvers would do very well for dropping coolant temps at low speeds, particularly towing in city traffic in 100F days. I see point that an air dam would be better at freeway speeds. I think I will do the Heath recalibrated fan clutch and 192F Robertshaw stats, then reclean the radiator stack with bug juice (I've used Adolph's meat tenderizer to melt bugs off the leading edge of an airplane wing), and see how I come out before I do any louvers. Thanks to all.

[pa32rt]

Originally Posted by Stratosurfer

Thanks Paveltolz, I think those louvers would do very well for dropping coolant temps at low speeds, particularly towing in city traffic in 100F days. I see point that an air dam would be better at freeway speeds. I think I will do the Heath recalibrated fan clutch and 192F Robertshaw stats, then reclean the radiator stack with bug juice (I've used Adolph's meat tenderizer to melt bugs off the leading edge of an airplane wing), and see how I come out before I do any louvers. Thanks to all.

Working out city traffic heating problems is something I work out ALOT. Usually not diesel stuff, but air flow is air flow. When someone brings me a problem of heating - I just work through the basics:

A) Has the vehicle ALWAYS done this (since new)? If so, it's either a factory part that is not doing it's job or -

B) The vehicle is one that was KNOWN to overheat when new.

Anytime someone is on the side of the road with steam rolling out, it cracks me up: "Oh, it just overheated...I just need to let it cool down and it will be fine". Really? Did it overheat when it was brand new? I don't think so. So, something has stopped fully doing it's job.

Now, on my bone-stock, FULLY RESTORED '55 Chevy, it overheats if idling in traffic on 100* day. These cars had NO fan shroud and a TINY four-blade fan. No overflow jug.

That being said, let's look at the '55 Chevy. At ANY speed other than stopped, it stays right at thermostat temp. So, what did we change? Airflow. This obviously shows the rad is doing it's job, but the fan is not pulling enough air THROUGH the radiator.

So now, on all of my classics and musclecars - I do an Aluminum rad with single or dual electric fans (depending on size). I use controllers that bring the fans in at 50%, but go to 100% if there is an additional 10* rise in water temp. Also, of course, they come on 100% with AC compressor.

Therefore, I can idle ALL DAY LONG in 100+ heat, with AC, and never see the temp go over therm temp. I have always been a clutch-fan guy. One-tons have always been this setup and really have never failed me in any situation. My LMM factory fan pulls more than any dual electric setup, and the truck does great in idle/AC situations as is.

In your situation, where you are seeing rising temps at idle in traffic, I see you have two options......

1) get EVERY piece of your cooling system back to brand-new condition. Rad (I would definitely upgrade to AL if not AL from factory), new therm, new fan clutch. IF your rig idled all day without overheating when it was new, you should now be back to that state.

2) swap the fan/clutch for a set of dual electrics with a built-in shroud. Ron Davis Radiators makes all of mine and they come turn-key. These guys mainly build rads for Trophy Trucks and Baja stuff. They know what they're doing.

[bigblazer]

I have a cowl hood . I think its the reason everybody says you can't run elect fans and I can. Actually without a/c on I hardly ever use the fan(s) . I've said it before , but the water cooling system only takes care of about 60% . The rest is exhaust and heat dissipation from the block.