CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Cooling thread
- Thread starter nedceifus
- Start date
What fluid are you trying to cool?
Antifreeze. I really have not had much of a problem with the stock setup, but... I have had it try & get hot while blasting down the interstate. This year I’m going to start utilizing the AC so I thought I’d just poke around to see what guys are doing to keep them 100% cool. I already moved my tranny cooler to the bed. Thinking about electric fans?
MEMO43
1/2 ton status
Do you have anything blocking the front of the radiator, what's the condition of your current set up ie radiator, shroud, fan clutch fan blades.
After I did my engine swap I replaced everything an now I barely see temps creep anywhere near 200.
Heck I've had to the block the radiator to allow the engine to come up to operating temps
After I did my engine swap I replaced everything an now I barely see temps creep anywhere near 200.
Heck I've had to the block the radiator to allow the engine to come up to operating temps
The factory mech fan/shroud setup should be all you need to cool a small block. Provided all the parts are in good working order. My 89 Jimmy is all stock and I use the AC regularly on road trips in the summer and she never runs over 210.
My 89 was always fine no matter what I did. It had a 70s big block radiator, only the upper shroud cause the lower half got destroyed. After I narrowed the front clip, the shroud was ditched, the fan blades needed to be shortened about 1.5" to clear some hydro steer hoses and it was still fine except for the time I was pushing it hard on a hot day at the dunes. I took the hood off and it was fine the rest of the day
I use a wet towel on my neck, my truck has no AC...
I have a 454 with a serpentine belt conversion, runs right at 190° all the time (street / trail).
9 blade fan w/ clutch (99 C3500 w/ 454)
CUCV radiator & shroud
180° thermostat
9 blade fan w/ clutch (99 C3500 w/ 454)
CUCV radiator & shroud
180° thermostat
I installed a 4 core champion radiator with Durale fans 4000 cfm. 2 manual switch in the cab on running consistently unless it single digits then I just let the water pump do the work so I can get as much heat as possible. These fans are the real deal.
According to the PO, my truck has a radiator and fan from a 454. I know I can crawl in the rocks all day in 100* temps and the needle stays between 190-200.
gonefishin
1/2 ton status
I run a 4 core copper radiator from a 454 truck. 195 degree thermostat. I have the factory mechanical fan and shroud. It overheated 1 time and it was 100 degrees outside. I was pulling another truck out of the mud heavy loads and constantly rapping out the engine and not moving anywhere.
i added 2 pusher electric fans on independent switches. Now it never overheats even when the radiator was half empty from leaking waterpump.
i added 2 pusher electric fans on independent switches. Now it never overheats even when the radiator was half empty from leaking waterpump.
Do you have some sort of air dam? 3200RPM isn't outrageous, but pretty high compared to what most stock setups run. To have it overheat while on the freeway at cruise is relatively abnormal I'd say, if you aren't towing a bunch.
Mine started doing that when there was a grade, the radiator was corroded internally enough that it just wasn't transferring heat effectively. To my surprise the electric fan at ~60MPH did actually reduce the coolant temp when it came on. But once I replaced the radiator, the fan wasn't needed in the same situation.
Mine started doing that when there was a grade, the radiator was corroded internally enough that it just wasn't transferring heat effectively. To my surprise the electric fan at ~60MPH did actually reduce the coolant temp when it came on. But once I replaced the radiator, the fan wasn't needed in the same situation.
Well that's why.
I had the same problem, on the highway to keep up with traffic I ran 3200 rpms and it would start creeping up, it never went above 220 but that made me uncomfortable. My shroud was missing some of it because of the body lift.
My options were fix that or put an overdrive or both.
I just put a 700r4 and it was fine
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
the freeway should be the easiest to cool down since you have all that air flowing past the radiator. It’s at idle and low speed you need to be careful for. I disabled my fans once and drove 80 miles on the freeway towing a trailer with no signs of overheating... until I stopped at my house and tried to back the trailer in the driveway. Blew the radiator hose right off it was so hot.
If yours isn’t cooling on the freeway, there’s something wrong with it.
I ran my k5 with the perkins diesel with no fan for a year daily driving it and some mild trails.
Then I went on a rock crawling trail and at the technical section temperature was getting high.
I ended up putting an electric fan on it and it was fine, and only came on in traffic or on trails.
