That exhaust is too close to the tank.
CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
I agree that it's too close to the tank. And I wouldn't let the dork at the exhaust shop touch my truck again!!!
I second and third that notion.. wtf was he smoking when he built that..
Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Helen Keller could have bent up a system with more clearance. So I'm going to check out the shop that Larry had the Burb done at and my buddy John had his Jeep done at.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Yep, I wouldn't give him a dime more.
I would even be tempted to drive by a show him the properly done exhaust. (Only since he's been giving you the run around.)
I might be tempted to run some header wrap around them pipes back there as well.
I would even be tempted to drive by a show him the properly done exhaust. (Only since he's been giving you the run around.)
I might be tempted to run some header wrap around them pipes back there as well.
Or put some of that transmission tunnel heat shield that DEI makes on the gas tank. I put some in my transmission tunnel last year and it made a noticeable difference.
That's not a bad idea I might have to do that.
Moving on to the radiator swap. Brackets got installed. Then I made up a proof of concept shroud extension. Concept works. Got all the hose connections hooked up, trans cooler lines and shroud mounted. The correct fan with the shroud moves some air even at idle.
Shroud extension isn't ideal, but its sturdy. The darn 5.3 is quite a bit shorter in overall length than a 6.2 or big block.
But I got it loaded with coolant and fired it up. Used our normal trick to fill coolant in the upper hose to avoid air bubbles, but I think I got one at the t-stat. Engine wouldn't come up over 155 on the gauge. Upper hose got hot, but lower hose was cool. Temp gun readings had the t-stat housing near 110 when the pump on the other side of the t-stat was around 150. Tried burping with no luck. I let it run for close to 30 minutes and it really just hovered at the same temp. It was dark and I was risking pissing off the neighbors so I shut it down for the night. Still need to put the grille back in and reconfigure my positive cable for the aux battery.
Sounds like the radiator isnt working too good. I think you should send it to me.
Sorry buddy. It's not coming out!
Funny thing before the swap I couldn't hear the fan clutch come on when it was hot. Either the fan only having 5 blades or the setback from the shroud or both just didn't allow it to move air effectively. Now with the 9 blade fan and the shroud extension and the same clutch as before, the fan makes some noise! It roars enough I couldn't hear the exhaust out the back standing at the front bumper. I'm super stoked at the performance so far and it hasn't left the driveway yet.
It's all back together tonight. Grill back on. Almost got the aux battery going again too. Since the new radiator too up the spot on the core support where by isolator solenoid was, I had to figure a way to get it back together. Looking over the available space on the backside of the core support I found a spot. There were already two bolts on the backside of the passenger side of the core support. Almost exactly the same spacing as the solenoid too. So I just mounted up the solenoid there and used the short cable on the side nearest the main battery and was going to run the long cable from the solenoid back to the aux battery. Only problem is that the bigger radiator forces a different routing and even then the existing cable is still about 8 inches short. So I'll have to make up a new cable to fit. No big deal there.
I ran it long enough to get the temp up and ran it for a few miles to try it out. Outside temp was 71 by the time I left and the gauge never went past 155. The lower hose was hot though. Plus I can hear the clutch come on now while driving. Couldn't do that before.
I ran it long enough to get the temp up and ran it for a few miles to try it out. Outside temp was 71 by the time I left and the gauge never went past 155. The lower hose was hot though. Plus I can hear the clutch come on now while driving. Couldn't do that before.
Good news!
But if the engine temp is that low, why is the fan clutch kicking in? Or do you mean just at first?
But if the engine temp is that low, why is the fan clutch kicking in? Or do you mean just at first?
It came on right as I was pulling out of the driveway at first. I've got another run to Denver to make so I'll be taking it to try it out. I'll know what it does in the heat of the day.
The run to Denver has proven the radiator is kicking ass. Highest outside temp on the way up was 89 degrees and the gauge was just a tick above the 155 mark. Stopped at the Littleton u-pull and found a overflow reservoir for $10 that isn't cracked.
One funny thing on the way up. I stopped in Penrose to grab a drink and a snack for the ride up. I'm getting my iced tea and somebody called out my name and asked if the blazer outside was mine. I turn around and it was one of the state patrol officers I've dealt with on tows at the shop. First thought was oh crap what did I do now? He actually just wanted to know about it. He heard me pull in, turns out he's a gear head too. Showed him the truck and answered a ton of questions. Pretty cool.
Once I got up to Denver after dinner I loaded my Dad up in the Blazer (meaning I brought my step due to his recent knee replacement) and made off for Golden to the monthly super cruise. I figured it would be another good test of the cooling system to make a couple of laps at low speed traffic. Turned out the same. No added temp, rock steady at 155 still. There was a square body group from Facebook that planned on gathering at the cruise too. Ended up finding them and parking to check them out. A guy by the name of Cody came right up introduced himself and said he loved my truck. He said he had been following my build here. I'm not used to my stuff being recognized like that, but it was flattering. Cody grabbed he rest of the guys and they checked it out. We all bs'd about squares for a while, checked out other stuff and bailed out just before the rains came. It was fun meeting like minded guys and cruising free of the fear of overheating. Here's some shots from the ride..
Hey Cody- where's your build thread? Don't be shy dude, you got a pretty solid K5 yourself. We'll have to go wheeling sometime.
One funny thing on the way up. I stopped in Penrose to grab a drink and a snack for the ride up. I'm getting my iced tea and somebody called out my name and asked if the blazer outside was mine. I turn around and it was one of the state patrol officers I've dealt with on tows at the shop. First thought was oh crap what did I do now? He actually just wanted to know about it. He heard me pull in, turns out he's a gear head too. Showed him the truck and answered a ton of questions. Pretty cool.
Once I got up to Denver after dinner I loaded my Dad up in the Blazer (meaning I brought my step due to his recent knee replacement) and made off for Golden to the monthly super cruise. I figured it would be another good test of the cooling system to make a couple of laps at low speed traffic. Turned out the same. No added temp, rock steady at 155 still. There was a square body group from Facebook that planned on gathering at the cruise too. Ended up finding them and parking to check them out. A guy by the name of Cody came right up introduced himself and said he loved my truck. He said he had been following my build here. I'm not used to my stuff being recognized like that, but it was flattering. Cody grabbed he rest of the guys and they checked it out. We all bs'd about squares for a while, checked out other stuff and bailed out just before the rains came. It was fun meeting like minded guys and cruising free of the fear of overheating. Here's some shots from the ride..
Hey Cody- where's your build thread? Don't be shy dude, you got a pretty solid K5 yourself. We'll have to go wheeling sometime.
This just happened...bought a camper.
Just the camper, not another blazer. More fun coming.
Just the camper, not another blazer. More fun coming.
Or the ground.
No fear. Just timing. I want to do it, just don't have the vacation time to pull this years off.
Sadly I've missed most of them
I'm not going to the nomad convention next year so I might be able to pull off the desert trip and blazer bash. If for any other reason to see Greg's insane first gen in the flesh and go wheeling.
I won't have to get a hotel room at least!
