Building "Nightmare" (78 GMC Jimmy)

[the_blaze]

so just thinking out loud here, my initial issue was, i would sit at lights and the temp would hit 220+ but as soon as i started to drive the temps would come down, i admit i didnt take it on the freeway but since driving it made it get better extremely quickly ( as in i would hit 220 at a light and be at 205 within a couple miles ) i assume it would probably would have had the same effect on the freeway.
i then switched to the windstar fans and pushed the condencer forward, now its acceptable in traffic but anything freeway and the temp climbs.

what i wonder is if the stock fan was working like it was supposed to and the clutch had just died, so maybe it was hardly spinning at idle and the higher rpm gave it just enough power.

 

[the_blaze]

Just pulled the fans out. As I was doing this I realized as a moved the cooling hoses I could hear air coming out the cap... **** me right lol all fans are off. Now what? Do I do the cap and put my windstar in or go to a heavy duty mechanical fan. I have both.
I also noticed my stock clutch is way soft and easy to spin compared to the new one.

 

[blazinzuk]

Do the cap. If it's bleeding pressure won't matter what fans.

 

[the_blaze]

Did the cap, drove over the point of the mountain with ac full blast it peaked at 206, average 201-203 according to fitech 200 mechanical around town 195 to 200 full A.C.
Without ac I actually saw 199 on the freeway but it was coming back down. I may swap fans tomorrow and try again. Also important to point out it's only 70ish degrees and I got caught in the rain. The gap might have helped but to me that's still to warm

 

[kgblazerfive]

That is not to warm. 200 is not bad at all, especially pulling point of the mountain.

 

[the_blaze]

It's just the 70 degree temps. I want to see it at 100 degrees. I also want to do a side by side electric vs mechanical. I may also move the condenser back to factory position and make a another pull. Yay long weekend!!

 

[skunked]

You're fine. I'm sure if I had a condesnor I would see another 10 degrees on average.

 

[blazinzuk]

currently with a 180° thermostat?

 

[the_blaze]

Yes sir, I was told to do a 160 but the science behind that doesn't make sense to me. Omg the amount of reading I did on that lol

206 with an outside temp of 70 degrees makes me nervous. I anticipate 90s so what will it do at 90+ ?

Any of you run electric fans on your trans coolers?

 

[skunked]

I just got my trans fan wired up last night.

You need to drive it in hot weather and see if it spikes up.

 

[the_blaze]

I just got my trans fan wired up last night.

You need to drive it in hot weather and see if it spikes up.

Are you running any kind of fancy alternator? Sounds like with the FITech, fans, trans coolers and any lights/radio we would be maxing out the stock alternator?

I agree I just need the weather to cooperate lol

 

[skunked]

Im running the bigger summit brand alternator. IIRC it's a 140 amp

 

[the_blaze]

Im running the bigger summit brand alternator. IIRC it's a 140 amp

Nice, I know @72gmck5 tried a couple aftermarket alternators but kept burning them up. i have one for a later model chevy but i have no clue what the rating is.

 

[kgblazerfive]

I am running a alternator from a 78 Caprice cop car, case is bigger amp is like 100.

 

[72gmck5]

A few years back in my parts counter days, I sourced @the_blaze alternator from a late 80's ambulance and it should be a 100 amp unit.

 

[kgblazerfive]

more then likely the same one.

 

[the_blaze]

I have much larger problems guys. I put on a new fuel gauge and I'm only pushing 20psi to the efi... ideas?

 

[Bent77]

Make sure the filter isn't plugged, or a kinked fuel line

 

[the_blaze]

Checked fuel pressure right off the pump and at the unit 20psi lol

 

[skunked]

Remind me what you're running for fuel delivery and FiTech model? Have you been monitoring AFR's?