New Dewitts radiator & custom fan shroud ( pics )
11-19-2012, 09:01 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
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New Dewitts radiator & custom fan shroud ( pics )
Wow ! It's been ages since my last post !
First, I bought a dog last Summer. His name is Google and it's a black Flat Coated Retriever.
OOPS ! I'm just hoping no one will make a copyright claim for that !
Not my first dog, but the last one died 20 years ago when I was still young and it had been a hard time...
To make a long story short, Google is now 17 months old and a little bit wiser and better educated than he used to be a few months ago.
2 months old : Tiny, cute,... and wild
Now :
Awesome ! This is the opportunity to work again on the vette !
So, I've bought a new power steering pump. I have chosen a Borgeson pump with the chrome plated reservoir.
I've had to make another aluminum pulley as I couldn't find one anywhere that would match my pulley set ( diameter and offset ).
This was not a hard job with my old but good lathe and a piece of 7075 T6 aluminum.
After that, I decided to change my radiator. I still had a stock copper core radiator ( 10 years old ) but I had also built a custom fan shroud with two 11" SPAL fans a few years ago.
Maybe some members will remember my old posts concerning that.
This aluminum fan shroud was really doing a great job and it was almost like new so I wanted to keep it as far as possible.
This is why I bought a Dewitts aluminum Direct Fit radiator : Not the cheapest but I was hoping my custom fan shroud would also fit the new radiator... but...
Things are not so easy in the real world !!!
Actually, Dewitts Direct Fit radiators are truly direct fit radiators ! Thank you captain Obvious !
But... The Dewitts' aluminum core is just a bit higher ( about 1/2" ) than the stock copper core. It is also much thinner than the copper version but I was already aware of that.
As my custom fan shroud had exactly the size of the copper core, it was too small for the new radiator.
So I've had to cut it using a thin metal cutoff wheel for angle grinder and then add two custom 39 x 12 mm aluminum angles and two 3 mm thick aluminum spacers ( See pictures ).
Not so difficult, but without any doubt time consuming...
Again, my custom stainless steel top cover was also inappropriate, because of the radiator core thickness this time, but I knew that before buying.
No problem, I'm an old pro at this now ! I'll make a brand new one in the blink of an eye !
Nevertheless, no matter the time, the most important is the result, and it's not bad IMO and at least it was leakless at first start up. Phew !
And now the pics !
The new braided upper radiator hose :
Detail of the new angle & spacer :
The custom fan shroud installed ( without fans ) :
The stainless steel top cover + logo :
Cherry on the cake, I have polished my alternator. It was a 6 hours job and every part has been disassembled, cleaned, mirror polished and reassembled :
I'm now scheduling to rebuild my front suspension next spring with a complete polyurethane bushing kit ( A-Arms + sway bar).
That will be my gift for her 40th anniversary, but don't tell her !
First, I bought a dog last Summer. His name is Google and it's a black Flat Coated Retriever.
OOPS ! I'm just hoping no one will make a copyright claim for that !
Not my first dog, but the last one died 20 years ago when I was still young and it had been a hard time...
To make a long story short, Google is now 17 months old and a little bit wiser and better educated than he used to be a few months ago.
2 months old : Tiny, cute,... and wild
Now :
Awesome ! This is the opportunity to work again on the vette !
So, I've bought a new power steering pump. I have chosen a Borgeson pump with the chrome plated reservoir.
I've had to make another aluminum pulley as I couldn't find one anywhere that would match my pulley set ( diameter and offset ).
This was not a hard job with my old but good lathe and a piece of 7075 T6 aluminum.
After that, I decided to change my radiator. I still had a stock copper core radiator ( 10 years old ) but I had also built a custom fan shroud with two 11" SPAL fans a few years ago.
Maybe some members will remember my old posts concerning that.
This aluminum fan shroud was really doing a great job and it was almost like new so I wanted to keep it as far as possible.
This is why I bought a Dewitts aluminum Direct Fit radiator : Not the cheapest but I was hoping my custom fan shroud would also fit the new radiator... but...
Things are not so easy in the real world !!!
Actually, Dewitts Direct Fit radiators are truly direct fit radiators ! Thank you captain Obvious !
But... The Dewitts' aluminum core is just a bit higher ( about 1/2" ) than the stock copper core. It is also much thinner than the copper version but I was already aware of that.
As my custom fan shroud had exactly the size of the copper core, it was too small for the new radiator.
So I've had to cut it using a thin metal cutoff wheel for angle grinder and then add two custom 39 x 12 mm aluminum angles and two 3 mm thick aluminum spacers ( See pictures ).
Not so difficult, but without any doubt time consuming...
Again, my custom stainless steel top cover was also inappropriate, because of the radiator core thickness this time, but I knew that before buying.
No problem, I'm an old pro at this now ! I'll make a brand new one in the blink of an eye !
Nevertheless, no matter the time, the most important is the result, and it's not bad IMO and at least it was leakless at first start up. Phew !
And now the pics !
The new braided upper radiator hose :
Detail of the new angle & spacer :
The custom fan shroud installed ( without fans ) :
The stainless steel top cover + logo :
Cherry on the cake, I have polished my alternator. It was a 6 hours job and every part has been disassembled, cleaned, mirror polished and reassembled :
I'm now scheduling to rebuild my front suspension next spring with a complete polyurethane bushing kit ( A-Arms + sway bar).
That will be my gift for her 40th anniversary, but don't tell her !
Last edited by 73StreetRace; 11-19-2012 at 09:34 AM.
11-19-2012, 09:16 AM
#2
Melting Slicks
Beautiful dog! Dog's are my favorite people 
Our eldest dog (Son), Baxter died August 9th, the wife and I are still devestated he was our best friend with personality that wouldn't quit, getting a little chocked up just thinking about him.
The motor looks great, good job
Our eldest dog (Son), Baxter died August 9th, the wife and I are still devestated he was our best friend with personality that wouldn't quit, getting a little chocked up just thinking about him.The motor looks great, good job
X2 on both
11-19-2012, 08:24 PM
#9
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: North of Toronto - Ontario
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Nice job. Really nice job. Tidy work there.
for the doggieMooser
11-19-2012, 08:42 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Now that is some Beautiful Eye Candy! You do Beautiful Work
You do Beautiful Work
11-20-2012, 08:56 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
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Thank you all for your comments and congratulations !
About the SS top cover, yes I made it myself because I've got all the hardware requirement, which might not be the case of everyone around.
But if anyone knows someone who can make it ( It requires essentially a shearing machine and a folding press and just 20-30 minutes to make it with the appropriate equipment ),
I can send a manufacturing flow diagram with all the necessary dimensions.
The SS metal sheet is only 0.6 mm thick, one face mirror polished.
So it is important to pay attention to scratches during the process because it is almost impossible to polish the part after ( too fragile ).
Just send me a PM if you are interested...
But if anyone knows someone who can make it ( It requires essentially a shearing machine and a folding press and just 20-30 minutes to make it with the appropriate equipment ),
I can send a manufacturing flow diagram with all the necessary dimensions.
The SS metal sheet is only 0.6 mm thick, one face mirror polished.
So it is important to pay attention to scratches during the process because it is almost impossible to polish the part after ( too fragile ).
Just send me a PM if you are interested...
Last edited by 73StreetRace; 11-22-2012 at 01:11 AM.
11-22-2012, 01:10 AM
#13
Burning Brakes
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