Hi

After a long time of mainly reading and learning so much from these forums,
I thought it would only be fair to try and 'pay back' somehow.

Here are some pictures of the FSD relocation I am doing on my 2500 Savana Van.
I hope this post will be of help to other van owners.

I have seen the various relocation options that are available in trucks.
Most of them are not possible in vans as the engine compartment is
packed and there are no cooler areas, let alone free space…

As I am at the stage of replacing my second FSD (the first one was
actually in my previous van) I realized that relocation is a must.
I found an adequate place by the RH bumper bracket.
The heat sink (salvaged from an old HT receiver) fitted nicely in the space between the
front torque bar and the fender skirt (not sure this is the right term...)

Here is the intended location:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/014.jpg

I fabricated a bracket to hold the heat sink onto the fender support:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/009.jpg

Here is the complete heat sink + FSD and bracket:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/028.jpg

This is the original PMD harness with the extension loom:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/002-1.jpg

The complete extended (FSD) harness (added 1.6 meters):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/035.jpg

Here is the heat sink with bracket in the new location (view from left):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/032.jpg

View from the right:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/030.jpg

View from the back:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/031.jpg

And an intake hole I added in the skirt (just to be on the safe side...):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/boniton/029.jpg

Now that all is ready I hope to install the new harness and finish the mod soon.

Any insights or questions welcome...

N.Webber :)

that looks awesome, good job! that will definitely stay cool in that location with that giant heat sink

That will work!!! Great job!!!

OK,

Relocation is complete.
Had a long mid-day drive yesterday and was so delighted to reach and feel the new heat sink+FSD were only a little warmish…

I do have a question though.
While I was at it, I took out the 'old' PMD. This one only started acting up recently and would stall the engine about once or twice a week.
This (old) PMD is the one I now reinstalled on the relocated heat sink.

I did get a new unit and basically was going to install it in the new location.

But now I am heaving second thoughts. As the 'old' PMD has only started to show signs of 'illness',
maybe in the new cooler environment it can still continue to operate, start another life so to speak…?

I realize the old unit has suffered thermal damage to some extent, but maybe now that it will not even
come close to those high temperatures, it can still give a dependable service?

I can return the new FSD and save this money (for now, at least) and if the old FSD starts failing again
I can always re-buy a new one and easily replace it.

So, what is your take on this?
Any of you have any experience re-locating but also re-using the old 'slightly cooked' FSD?

Thanks :)

DON'T GET RID OF THE NEW ONE!!!!!

I've played that game myself and it's not good. The van will stall in the worst or places or time and you'll be needing the new PMD to get going again.

x2, Dad knows what he is talking about. Keep the new one as spare. Who knows how long the old one will last. As the temperature fluctuates more, it will go faster. All the failing PMD thread started during temperature change.

All you need now is some heat tranfer compound between the pmd and the heat sink and then seal it up to keep moisture out of it.

OK,

I'll keep the new one as spare.

Thanks,

:)

That looks like a good setup you made! Great job.

awesome set-up, X a million on keeping as a spare, I've got a spare PMD and extension in my door panel