Project "Sweet 16"

[Atommik]

I'd be interested in the rad and fan info too. I'll be buying mine soon!!

[skymangs]

I believe this was a Champion. I bought it off of ebay. I can post a link to the company's store when I get home. They had a 99.8% pos. feedback, and when I called them they were very knowledgable. Radiator was listed as a direct replacement for 47-54 Chevy/GMC trucks. Is fully tig welded (no epoxy) and comes with transmission cooler if needed. It fit very well and the brackets were pre-welded at the correct angle, but it is 1.5" thicker and 3/4" taller than the stock one, so the fan had to get switched to a pusher.

Rad did not come with a fan, That was another ebay purchase months ago. I think it was 40 something shipped. 16", 2500cfm, reversable.

Water pump was from ebay as well. Someone I know told me that aluminum wp's cool much better than cast iron, and I didn't believe it. There isn't enough surface area for aluminum to make much difference... I had to do some research and found that the difference is that alum. doesn't contract and expand as quickly as cast, so with billet guts, the tollerances can be machined much tighter. So I went with one.

It was 85 degrees and HUMID all day Sunday. 370 miles and it never passed 160 degrees engine temp. Can't beat that with a stick!

[rambler]

A/C still working well?

[99 to Life]

the aluminum wp's I buy claim to pump 30% more volume but are $75 and polished and shipped. I run a 185 stat and I usually stay under it, especially with more water in the coolant, but now I run more coolant cause of the winter months and it runs a little hotter with more anitfreeze. Overall I think the belair replacement is smaller than yours by a tad. I'll be buying another rad soon for my next project. the store I got mine from had to wait about 6 weeks for champion to make them one though, I was bumming on that. So maybe I'll have better luck this time. Def not buying one without a warranty though.

[skymangs]

Rambler... sure is, AC is ice cold. Got to get your gauges back to you this week.

99, I totally understand. For the money, I was pleased with this setup. I run 50/50 mix on the coolant. I'm runnig a 160 stat (for summer with AC).

[_Ogre]

nice wheel mod skymangs

[skymangs]

Thanks Ogre, hardly anyone notices it!

[selfbuiltrods]

WOW! Is all I can say! Definitely subscribed! You guys have come up with so many DIY ideas on this dude! Congrats! Keep up the good work!

[skymangs]

Thank you Dustin. Hopefully the next one will be in the works shortly!

[RootBeer 6117]

Hey Skyman you have done some great work.
I have one question where did you put your battery? I looked back through the build and didn't see it.I was just wondering I have been thinking about moving mine.

[skymangs]

Rootbeer, Battery is behind the seat on the passenger side. I made a metal box for it, and crimped my own cables. The Pos cable is like 86" long.

I really don't care for having it in the passenger compartment, but couldn't figure any better solutions. The S10 frame runs right through the factory batter tray area.

[99 to Life]

I run my battery in the same place. To be honest I love the location. I also run a kill switch in the cab and a pos terminal up on the firewall. I run a couple things directly off the bat in the cab and then the pos terminal up on the firewall.

[RootBeer 6117]

Thanks skymangs,
I sat in my truck one afternoon looking at the floor and thinking about moving the battery access cover over but I will leave it under the hood for now. I have had a problem with the key being left on and ruined one battery, I have a shut off switch now.

[99 to Life]

honestly I feel all vehicles should have kill switches, especially carburated ones. Fire extinguishers too.

[Atommik]

Skyman,
Since our build are so similar, I hope you don't mind a few questions. Are you using a temp controlled fan switch? If you are, what temp range are you using on your fan switch. Also I think you said you used an EZ wiring harness right? Is the fan power wire hot all the time or only with the key on. I'm afraid my high powered fan may be a battery drainer if it runs after the engine is off.

Did I see windsheild washer squirters on your build? Something you added?

[99 to Life]

not trying to hijack but I literally was just going to post on my thread about installing a new "temp sender" mine went bad all of the sudden, you'd think you could just find one cheap online, well about $20 was the cheapest I found, then found a whole efan kit for about $28, made more sense to buy a whole kit to have another relay and parts. Anyway, I run a 185 temp sensor. I don't like the idea of 200 deg ones you see out there. I'd rather stay below 200.

As for EZ harness, your fan should not run when you shut the truck off, it will if you leave the key in acc mode. There is no reason the fan should stay running, IMO. Your going to have hotter water set idle while your stopped and you will see your temp gauge rise some, as soon as you turn engine over, and water circulates, temp is normal.

[skymangs]

x2 on 99's comments. We have a kill switch behind the seat (in the center of the cab).

I run a 185 on 180 off sender that threads into the manifold ( hate those probes with the "adustable" control. I don't trust them). So far the boys truck runs at about 175 on the highway, and 180-85 in town at 95* ambient outside air tempature with the AC at full blast. The reason for the increased temp in town I'm sure is that the pusher fan doesn't move quite enough air (I'm working on a solution to that now).

I'm using an ez 12 circuit harness. It has switched power for the fan and is relayed in the fuse box. A very nice setup. I've never felt the need to leave the fan on after the engine is off (my system never goes over 205 deg when shut off). If you did want that, you could wire a switched override to bypass the sender, but it seems like a lot of effort for not much gain.

Washer squirters came off a 63 Chevy truck (I think they may have been aftermarket), the tank is an old glass washer fluid bottle (60's GM) and the pump is a Oreilly's aftermarket cheapo. Works well though.

Hope that helps.

[skymangs]

16 days till power tour!

[Atommik]

Thanks for the info! I don't want my fan to run after the motor is shut down, so it sounds like I won't need to change anything.

[oldman3]

Hey Fred, been keeping up with you thread since we met at Brads. Haven't posted, just been watching. Nice job on the signage, carpet, etc. I know you and Mike are going on Power Tour, which will cost a few bucks. I just wanted to know if you might be going to the NSRA show in Springfield this week-end. Two events that close makes it hard with money. If you were going, just wanted to make sure we hook-up. Love all the things you've done since I last saw the truck, enjoy....Jim

[skymangs]

Hey Jim, Yeah, some of the guys from my club are going to Springfield this weekend. We chose Power Tour. I'm sure there will be another event or two down your way this summer that we'll be headed to.

Thanks for the compliments on the truck, we're pretty happy with how it came out. I was actually getting ready to pick your brain on convertible tech, a buddy of mine just gave me a nice solid cab that has had the 5-window section removed, and I was considering losing the rest of the top to save it.

I'll PM ya.

~Chris

[mknittle]

I was considering losing the rest of the top to save it.

just do it!

[oldman3]

I'll be waiting, will help as much as I can...Jim

[skymangs]

POWER TOUR! Although we only did 2 days, it was a Great experience! We met several folks from the board down there, and had a blast!

The only problem the truck had was a broken rocker arm (oem stamped steel) halfway between Texarkana and Little Rock.

Hot Rod Mag even pulled us over for pics and an interview of my boy! Hoping it makes the Magazine next month.

Got tons of pics,

[skymangs]

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