Radiator Relocation

Chad241993 · Sep 28, 2017

I'm building a custom "truggy" out of a 6.9 IDI and I'm getting ready to move the radiator behind the cab with E-Fans. Will the stock water pump be able to push this far, or do I need a inline helper pump? It will be at the same height that it sits now.

chillman88 · Sep 28, 2017

I'm actually going to watch this thread because we've been thinking of doing the same thing to my buddy's mud truck. I'll add a second question of what is recommended to run the coolant to the back, iron pipe or?

79jasper · Sep 28, 2017

Could probably get some ideas from dieselcrawler, if he stops by.

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lotzagoodstuff · Sep 28, 2017

I would recommend hydraulic tubing with some short lengths of rubber hoses to take up the movement/shock. You can get some really nice clamps to mount the tubing as it's very common for hydraulic tubes.

Just keep in mind: you will have a tough time moving more air with the fans than with a mechanical fan, so go big or go home with regards to the radiator

chris142 · Sep 28, 2017

Water pumps pull....not push

Chad241993 · Oct 2, 2017

I have the wide four core radiator I am hoping that this with a dual large ford Taurus fans and custom shroud it will be enough. In reality it will usually be a low rpm low load vehicle. Oh and it has a banks waste-gated sidewinder on it as well. (best $150 buck ever spent at the junk yard)

lotzagoodstuff said:
I would recommend hydraulic tubing with some short lengths of rubber hoses to take up the movement/shock. You can get some really nice clamps to mount the tubing as it's very common for hydraulic tubes.

Just keep in mind: you will have a tough time moving more air with the fans than with a mechanical fan, so go big or go home with regards to the radiator

Do they make 2" hydraulic tubing? I was thinking of using aluminum pipe or thin wall steel pipe for ease of finding and welding, I want to run it solid the whole way except for right at the ends next to engine and radiator.

Thatoneguy · Oct 2, 2017

Chad241993 said:
I have the wide four core radiator I am hoping that this with a dual large ford Taurus fans and custom shroud it will be enough. In reality it will usually be a low rpm low load vehicle. Oh and it has a banks waste-gated sidewinder on it as well. (best $150 buck ever spent at the junk yard)

Do they make 2" hydraulic tubing? I was thinking of using aluminum pipe or thin wall steel pipe for ease of finding and welding, I want to run it solid the whole way except for right at the ends next to engine and radiator.

Definitely go with aluminum over steel. Its way more thermally conductive and will help to shed a lot of heat out of the coolant.

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Chad241993 · Oct 2, 2017

Thatoneguy said:
Definitely go with aluminum over steel. Its way more thermally conductive and will help to shed a lot of heat out of the coolant.

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Are the 7.3 IDI Radiators any better? there is one at the junkyard I could probable get for $40. Id have to check if its Aluminum or not.

Thatoneguy · Oct 2, 2017

I was referring to the piping for it. But IMO the tall narrow rads are better than the short wide. Stock was not aluminum. But aluminum can be had relatively inexpensive compared to modern rads.

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Dieselcrawler · Oct 3, 2017

Everyone I know used 2 inch exhaust tubing running down the frame rails, and flexible rubber hose to link the tube to the engine and such. As for our pumps being able, I would say absolutely, I was flushing mine once and had s heater hose off to flush that good. At idle it pushed a few feet out the hose, reved up it sprayed a good 15 feet. But I have no first hand on relocation, mines still up front

Dieselcrawler · Oct 3, 2017

If using exhaust tubing, make sure you bubble or flair the end a bit so the hose can grab

Chad241993 · Oct 4, 2017

Ill try to keep this thread updated as I go through it, I'm sure there will be some fun surprises.

Chad241993 · Nov 19, 2017

Got the radiator moved, and its mostly plumbed in. I went with 2" stainless 16Ga tubing that i found for cheap, ran both down the inside of the driver side frame rail. Everything was fairly tight and took some persuasion to get in with rub pads. Hopefully ill have her running again in a few days. I have two of the Ford T-Bird 18" E-Fan that should barely fit.

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03wr250f · Nov 20, 2017

im honestly curious how much fluid your tubing holds. I wonder about so many 90* in the tubing, but I would think that it would work fine.

Dieselcrawler · Nov 20, 2017

Only thing I see is you will want a bung in the upper hose on the engine to fill/bleed air. Just looks like a 1/2 pipe plug there. Will work but might fight filling being that small. Most guys put a second cap on

Radiator Relocation

Chad241993

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