Ron Davis Fan Shroud Split for Installation

[Jeff10]

Hey,

I thought I would start another thread rather than post these pictures on the FlowKooler install question thread that was started a couple of days ago.

I finally gave into all the people who said the fan needs to be halfway out of the fan shroud. I knew that it would look more professional to have someone cut down the shroud. And while the shroud was at the shop having the shroud cut down, I had them split the shroud so that it could be removed more easily (without the need to remove the fan or the radiator). (I believe that the shroud was originally installed three years ago without removing the fan or radiator; but, it was tough and it was tough not to damage the radiator in the process.)

I haven't figured out exactly how I'll fasten the backing plates to the shroud interior. I'm thinking about pop rivets on one side and small nutserts/machine screws on the other. Whichever way we choose, I believe the hard part is done.

I'm really happy with the way it came together.

Not sure if it's of interest to anyone else. I thought I would post some pics just in case.

Take Care,

Jeff

 

[texbronc]

I like the idea of the split shroud for ease of installation. Please keep us posted on any difference in temps/cooling ability. I'm running the same shroud and currently battling the Texas heat in August.

 

[DirtDonk]

Let us know if you feel/notice a difference in the fan's performance Jeff. I'd always read it was 2/3 inside, 1/3 outside myself. But guessing the preciseness of that is open to variations in vehicles too. Be real happy to hear you found it makes a difference.

I like the half/half routine as well. All of my modern cars have been that way, as were most GM trucks back in the day. Not sure who was the first company to figure that out, or when, but it's a great feature.

Paul

 

[carter2772]

Watching

 

[Jeff10]

Hey Guys,

Here are a few more pictures right before installation.

There are a couple of things that I wasn't completely pleased with:

1. The nutserts I used didn't work well. I probably needed a more precise drill bit; but, I thought a conventional size would be good enough. I will probably change from a 6-32 to an 8-32 the next time the shroud comes off.

2. The passenger side half of the shroud still can't be installed without removing the lower radiator hose. I don't think I could finesse it on... I tried a little and was afraid I was wasting my time.

Even though the passenger side shroud piece won't come off without removing the radiator hose, it will allow for the driver side half of the shroud to come off. After that I can move the other half to get access to the fan or the back side of the radiator.

Take Care,

Jeff

 

[Jeff10]

Hi Paul,

Let us know if you feel/notice a difference in the fan's performance Jeff. I'd always read it was 2/3 inside, 1/3 outside myself. But guessing the preciseness of that is open to variations in vehicles too. Be real happy to hear you found it makes a difference.

I like the half/half routine as well. All of my modern cars have been that way, as were most GM trucks back in the day. Not sure who was the first company to figure that out, or when, but it's a great feature.

Paul

I checked after the shroud was installed. It's a little more than half in.

It's tough to know whether the airflow has improved for sure. I used the business card test that Ron Davis suggested a couple of years ago. If I flick the card down into the opening between the grill and the radiator it snaps back onto the radiator pretty quickly. It appears to me that it is better... just no data to back it up.

The real test will be when we're in Moab. I'll keep you posted.

Take Care,

Jeff

 

[texbronc]

Please report back after Moab. Good luck and have fun!

 

[LA75]

I just bought a steel shroud, and was going to separate mine as well. Didn't look at it too closely yet, but I was wondering, why you didn't separate it top and bottom, rather then passenger and driver sides??

 

[Jeff10]

Hey Guys,

Sorry for the delay in responding. We're here in Moab... but, I have been working the whole time. I don't have much choice with the projects that I have going; but, it still is disappointing. I should take the Bronco out tomorrow for the first time. I'll report on the cooling (hopefully successful cooling).

To answer LA75's question:

There were two reasons I split the shroud side-to-side.

1. It was going to be a lot easier to install any fasteners from the top and bottom, as opposed to the sides. (Ease of seeing the holes was the main reason.)

2. Supporting the shroud halves with one fastener at the top and one at the bottom seemed like it would be a little more secure if the rivets or nutserts at the splits failed. I don't think it would be a huge deal... just seemed like a better choice.

I can tell you, though, that if I had split it top and bottom I would probably be able to remove the top and bottom halfs without removing the radiator hose for the passenger side. It might be worth checking out.

Take Care,

Jeff

 

[DirtDonk]

For anyone contemplating splitting it on the sides, maybe the tool access issue Jeff is talking about can be alleviated somewhat by shaping your reinforcing/attaching points as "flanges" instead of as overlays?
In other words, attach them flat along the the curve of the shroud, but put a 90° bend outward at the seam. Do this on both top and bottom hales so that the bits sticking out to the side sit one on top of the other.
This gives your attaching hardware a vertical orientation. And it would not have to be too much sticking out either. Maybe an inch or less?

You could even use threaded inserts or clips, instead of a separate nut, so that you could just screw them together without having to get a wrench around the bottom.

This is basically how the molded plastic shrouds are done on older (and probably many modern too) GM cars and trucks that have the 2-piece shrouds. Just a plastic flange molded in, with holes and speed clips and fancy sheet metal or small machine screws.

Hope that was more clear visually than it was phonetically!%)

Paul

 

[gclauson]

3 way split

FWIW, I split mine at about 2:00, 6:00, and 10:00 positions, to be able to remove all of the shroud without removing the radiator.

I have the Wild Horses steel shroud. I can email photos if anyone wants to see the details and fasteners.

Gary

 

[Jeff10]

Hi Guys,

I'm happy to report back that we no longer have overheating issues.

I believe that it was close to 90 the last three days. We were out all three days. It's tough to tell from the analog temperature gauge; but, based upon the graduations on the gauge the temperature was almost always at close to 195 degrees F. There were several times during fairly long uphill pulls at slow speed that the temperature climbed to about 215. (Without some way to measure exactly what the temperature was, it's tough to say exactly.)

There was no excessive overflow into the overflow bottle.

Because the FlowKooler pump, the high flow thermostat and the modified shroud were all done at the same time, it's tough to know which one had the greatest effect. (I didn't want to spend a lot of our vacation experimenting.)

The runs we made were a great test. Last year we were running over 220 for most of the time with a lot of overflow into the bottle (and overflow from the bottle).

I don't believe I'll be trying the smaller pulley.

Good luck.

Jeff