[jcal73]

My little 5 is running well after the engine install last year.
We had a module problem, but other than that she runs great.
The only problem we have run into is that since the temps around here have been getting warmer, so has the jeep.
It would cool fine sitting in traffic at idle, but would overheat while going long distances at a sustained speed of over 50 mph.
At those speeds it tachs over 2000 rpm.
I could duplicate the problem sitting in the driveway and throttling it to 2200rpm and the temp would climb slowly to above 205deg.
I removed the cap and verified that I had good coolant flow.
The only other thing could be is that it doesn't have enough fan.
Here is a pic of my electric fan setup.

It has too small a fan and not enough area open for the air to get through while on the road.
I know I could have tried to make this setup better, but I didn't really want to run an electric fan (I have my reasons not up for debate).

I removed the electric setup and installed the clutch fan from my old 93 Chevy K1500 with the same engine and belt drive setup.
It ran fine on the road at speed, but would warm up at idle.
I knew it would work, it just needed a shroud.

So, I ordered these.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-17417/?rtype=10

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-31547/?rtype=10

I then started doing some research on building fan shrouds.

I came across these sites.

This is an instruction on building a shroud out of fiberglass.

http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54pontiac/FanShroud.html

I liked the idea and did more research and found this on youtube.
It is building a speaker enclosure, but the principals are the same.

Now to gather the stuff and try to build it!

:cheers:

Jeff

 

[jcal73]

So I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased 2yds of fleece fabric.
I picked up some 1/4inch particle board, Fiberglass resin and matt, and some 1x2 boards at Home Depot.
Now to start building.

When you look at these pics please keep in mind that I have no experience with wood working or fiberglass!

It was learning as I went!:laugh:

Here are a few pics of my first attempt. I did not use enough resin on the fleece and my template was built incorrectly.

Building the template.

A few of the incorrect shroud build

The fist try would have contacted the fan on the bottom because of the steep angle from the radiator core to the fan opening.

The second try.
I added a half moon shape to the top and bottom of the core template.

The template is longer at the top than bottom to make up of for the tilt of the engine.

More to follow.
:cheers:

Jeff

 

[jcal73]

Stretched Fleece and stapled.

Again you can see the difference between the top of the shroud and bottom
To account for the angle of the fan in relation to the radiator core.

I then mixed some resin and soaked the fleece, let it dry and mixed and applied a very heavy coat.

Now to cutting out the template, glassing the inside and finishing.

:cheers:
Jeff

 

[jcal73]

I used my dremel tool with a router adapter and a 1/8 rotozip blade made for cutting wood to cut out the core side of the template.

I glassed the inside with two layers of glass and resin. My camera battery died and there are no pics of this, sorry.

After drying overnight I smoothed out the outside and inside with a small air grinder with a 36 grit pad.

Next I cut out the round part of the template with the dremel.

Now for a test fitting. My measurements were correct I was very happy!

I had to smooth out some places for clearance.

Now to paint finishing.
I primed the shroud.

Sanded and glazed and sanded and sanded and sanded! You get the idea!:laugh:

I sprayed it semi-gloss black.

Then I scratched it all up installing it!:rofl:

Next onto brackets and installation.

:cheers:

Jeff

 

[jcal73]

I made small brackets to hold the shroud in place out of some small bar flat that I had lying around.

A few pics of the finished product, well almost, I still will remove it and repaint.

This pic was taken after a 17 mile drive and letting her sit at idle for 20 minutes. I believe that my cooling problems may be gone!

:cheers:

Jeff

 

[rixcj]

You did a great job! Congrats!

Thanks for posting this.

Rich

 

[CrawlingForward]

Wow! Great write-up and a nice product!

 

[mikeumkc]

I absolutely LOVE your paint studio. hahaha. Awesome.

 

[jcal73]

I absolutely LOVE your paint studio. hahaha. Awesome.

That's an old camper my dad made into a shed behind a little storage building.
He parks a 1969 John Deere 110 inside it.

Jeff

 

[drerict]

Looks good, I may be copy your idea for mine.

 

[jcal73]

Looks good, I may be copy your idea for mine.

Go ahead! I copied others to build it!:laugh:

Jeff

 

[BioTex]

Outstanding job! Now that you are a glass expert, you going to build a tub?

 

[jcal73]

Outstanding job! Now that you are a glass expert, you going to build a tub?

No here in AL we use the creek once a week weather we need it or not!:laugh:

Jeff

 

[243]

Outstanding work Jeff :thumbsup:

This is the reason I hang out at JF

 

[TBailey]

Looks good.The only thing I would have done differently would be to gelcoat it.Fiberglass and fiberglass resin are not water proof.

 

[scrapman]

Looks good.The only thing I would have done differently would be to gelcoat it.Fiberglass and fiberglass resin are not water proof.

Why would it being "water proof" matter? Will the resin turn to mush if it gets wet?

 

[mikeumkc]

I think you'll be quite fine without it being "waterproof". Fiberglass doesn't turn to mush in water. not at all. It is porous and will absorb water and dry out. much like wood. but I certainly dont see that being an issue with a fan shroud.

 

[Jim1611]

Now that's a great job my friend!! Nice to see some fiberglass work going on. :2thumbsup:

 

[Bakunin]

Very nicely done! And a great example of how critical a decent fan shroud really is.

 

[TBailey]

I think you'll be quite fine without it being "waterproof". Fiberglass doesn't turn to mush in water. not at all. It is porous and will absorb water and dry out. much like wood. but I certainly dont see that being an issue with a fan shroud.

Fiberglass itself does not rot.Fiberglass resin will rot to an extent.It will only absorb water and dry so many times before it starts to crack and deteriorate.It will also get between multipe layers of glass and cause it to peel apart.At that point it wont be long before it comes apart and eats up the radiator.

The only reason I mentioned it is because it is something that is going to get wet.If you drive in the rain its getting wet.If you do a deep enough water crossing its getting wet.