Jim Kelly's V8 re-conversion Options

[jimkelly]

i'm cheap, and the best priced place only had one in stock, so i thought i could make something decent but later realized i should have sprung for the toyota part. time constraint then led me to use a simple rubber grommet.

[mgp4591]

while waiting for the new rad, why not install something like this for some real comfort ??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNIVERSAL-SMAL...gy~&vxp=mtr

This site looks like they have answers for some of my problems- anyone have any experience with this company, the heaters or the a/c units? If they work like they say, I'll probably pick up a combination of their products to make my ride more comfortable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[jimkelly]

what site?

reusing all my renegade aluminum, working well.

[mgp4591]

The link to the Ebay site for a heater. Found some info on a/c units too. They're small enough to fit in a stack where many have a console coming down from the dash. Looks like just the ticket for us waterboxer folks...

[jimkelly]

well, radiator is mostly in, using renegade's radiators and shroud. notice it is about 1.5 inches too tall (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and i take my welding comment back, for aluminum, i had rod and dave take turns. seems neither of my existing hoses, 1" and 1.25" fit my new radiator. tomorrow i need to buy some 1.5" hose and make some transitions. also, my new radiator does not have a build in temp sensor to trigger radiators, so i need to rig something up.

[jimkelly]

stumbling block. the coolant spouts on radiator are both 1.391" OD. my car has one coolant hose that is 1.00" ID and the other is 1.25" ID, dead nuts. so i turned these (temporary stainless steel) transitions last night. one is 1" OD to 1.390"+- OD with 3/4" passage, and, the other is 1.25" to 1.390"+- with a 1" passage. now i need to get me some toyota celica 2000-2005 radiator hose, assuming it will be very close to having a 1.390" +- ID ???

oh, the coolant spouts on the renegade radiator were dead nuts ODs, 1" and 1.25". no dramatic hose stretching required for it.

((UPDATE: I wound up NOT using these transitions. see below ))

[jimkelly]

guess i will just put a hose and plug on this? .400 OD nipple.

[Andyrew]

Why not tig the adapters to the radiator? Thats what im going to do....

[jimkelly]

i canceled my order with jags that run ( for 2 transitions with 1.5" ODs on one side with in hindsight are probably too large for the radiator side, 1.391") because i was under the impression that my 1.25 hose would fit the radiator but i am now thinking it won't. but even if it did i would need a solution for my 1" hose. but i was confused and wanted to wait till i got the radiator to decide what i really needed. i do not think an american fraction will work well with this radiator?? 1-13/32 = 1.391

[Andyrew]

Thus the exact reason I am welding on some 1 1/4" pipe on my in/out. I happen to be running 1 1/4" lines so this works out for the best.

[jimkelly]

that's nice.
remember that one radiator outlet is kinds close to floor pan.
does it matter which radiator port is used as the outlet (cooler water to engine) and which is used as inlet (hot water from engine)?

[Andyrew]

Water typically flows down, so in our case I think the drivers side is the hot side.

[jimkelly]

i completely forgot i had these on my renegade radiator.

[Andyrew]

Hah! Thats awesome. Simple solutions are simple (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jimkelly]

the green arrow is pointing towards the, inbound/hot/high pressure side, of the radiator. I simply put a capped hose on the small nipple at top (see green arrow).

[Andyrew]

Correct. Thats what I would believe as well.

[jimkelly]

note: on the renegade system the wider 1.25" hose (to water pump from radiator) goes to the lowest/widest radiator port... and the narrow 1.00" hose (thermostat to radiator) goes to the top/narrowest radiator port.

see pic, mount tabs on renegade radiator are at its bottom.

[Andyrew]

Quote from RH's web site.

$120 RADIATOR HOSE: High quality hose, Gates Green Stripe or equivalent. Routed from the radiator to the engine compartment in the recesses beneath the floor of the car; 1-1/4" I.D. from lower radiator to pump and 1" I.D. from upper radiator to the thermostat housing. Very reliable and durable for this application - will easily last several years.

So I guess your right. Large is the outlet. I read it wrong the first time.

[BIGKAT_83]

The larger hose is the suction side of the radiator (return to water pump)the high pressure is the one that comes from the thermostat on your SBC. arrow above goes to the high pressure side

[jimkelly]

so i will be having the (aluminum) 1.25 port welded to bottom of rad on pass side (low pressure side(cooler/outbound to engine)) -- and 1" port to mid level of rad on drivers side (high pressure side(hot/inbound from engine)). this pic has radiator in it correct orientation (top and bottom ) with radiators facing rear of car. i now realize the rad is nothing fancy, it simply passes water from one side to the other, and cools it down a bit in the process, from drivers side to pass side..