Operation: AIRFLOW

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Operation: AIRFLOW
When crawling on hot days with the AC on full blast, the truck will begin to run hot.
I either have to put it in neutral and raise the idle for a minute, or get moving to get more air through the grill.
I boiled the problem down to too much blockage in front, and possibly not enough exit flow.

Starting at the front, the FM is about to get a VERY custom grill.
The stock Nissan grill blocks a lot right at the top where it joins the hood. The center section of bumper is useless, and blocks a bunch more. It all has to go.

Keep your eye on the bar grate on the ground...


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[Brake Weight [Veteran Member]]

Can you swap pulley(s) somehow to get more fan speed at idle?

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Well, I did a dumb. I was enlarging a hole in a bracket with a drill. Even though I knew it might catch, and hit the ac condenser, I went for it. Worked great on the first hole.
Second hole caught the bit, and pierced the condenser. I was stunned by my stupidity, to say the least.

Oh, the grill came out nicely, but the condenser set-back sucked the fun out of it. I'll get some pics up tomorrow when it's back together.

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[Dock Rocker [Veteran Member]]

Have you considered electric fans? If you are still running the Nissan radiator I would highly recommend them. The two speed Taurus fan is great and still cheap.


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[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

I'm running the Silverado radiator and condenser, and they are tight against the grill. There is just no room for additional fans.
I figure that if it worked in the Z71, which it did, it will work in the Hardbody with enough airflow.

I used to run electric fans with the stock engine. I've stayed with mechanical this time for reliability.

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[mynewtoy82 [Veteran Member]]

Do you have the stock z71 fan shroud and is it the right distance from the fan? If the fan doesn't fit in the fan shroud right it won't pull air through the radiator.

I'm just throwing ideas out there. I'm sure your on the right course with more air flow

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Stock shroud, but it sits an inch farther back (toward the engine) than stock. In other words, the fan is deeper into the shroud by an inch.

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[mynewtoy82 [Veteran Member]]

Stock shroud, but it sits an inch farther back (toward the engine) than stock. In other words, the fan is deeper into the shroud by an inch.

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Seems like that would work the same as stock. As long as the fan is not way behind the shroud

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

I wondered how critical that spacing is, also. I know that the idea is to prevent air from recirculating around the fan blade.

I couldn't bring myself to pay $150 for a condenser locally, so I ordered one on eBay for $47, and put the truck back together without it. The new one will be here Thursday. Worth the wait, in my estimation.

Here's the finished grill.
I'm thinking about painting the edges of the upper portion so it looks like an 80s aluminum bar grill. It might make the lower part less noticable. Actually, the winch will hide most of it.

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[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

And the final touch...

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