best way to keep my sammi from overheating on the trail

[shmoesmith]

My samurai runs great around town at high altitudes etc. But with the recent addition to a winch, i'm now having issues with keeping it cool while going crawling speeds on the trail. As you can see from the pic below, the winch is smack dab infront of my grill. Enough air gets forced around it at highway speeds, but not on the trail. Is the best option to find an electric fan and to tuck it in there behind the winch, or do I need something like the petroworks heavy duty 3row radiator? I'm thinking an electric fan is the most economical, but will it do the trick? If so, any brands that are cheap, yet effective?

[szki272]

I think the first thing I would do is tear apart the fan clutch clean it and fill it with rtv. or buy a petroworks flex fan.

[zukatude]

Hey Schmoe,

Why did you mount it that high? Because it would reduce your approach angle before your front shackles?

Remount the winch lower and move your front axle a couple inches forward. Or just sell it and buy a quad ATV, they're better on big ledges

[LiftedSuzuki101]

Well its a old trick in the book and its not the best one but turn on your heater... you'll cook but your engine will be cooler with it suckin all that hot air out, no fun when ya wanna keep mud out but need windows down cus you're f'in cookin like a steak. -David-

[shmoesmith]

Originally Posted by zukatude

Hey Schmoe,

Why did you mount it that high? Because it would reduce your approach angle before your front shackles?

Remount the winch lower and move your front axle a couple inches forward. Or just sell it and buy a quad ATV, they're better on big ledges

I mounted it that high because it was the best place to mount it onto my bumper. With it ontop of the bumper like that I could place 3 supports under it (2 on the sides, one in the middle)If I had mounted it lower then I would have only been able to support the winch mounting plate at the sides, rather than beneath it like I did. As far as big ledges, that was a 7 or 8 footer....no way up it other than winching. the actual winch mount doesnt really effect my approach angle since it is usually above any ledge i'm trying to climb.

[tdavis]

I have the TrailTough heavy duty 3 core in my zuk. I also have a large winch in front of it. Biggest difference is I have no fenders.

I'd check your fan clutch first, make sure it's good and engaging.

I will be selling the radiator shortly - the 2.0 engine upgrade I am working can't use it.

[Grabberman]

I've had a lot of luck mounting a sidekick radiator in my samurai. I picked it up for $20 from a guy who had an extra. The kick rad is about 1.5 times the size of the sammy, so with that and my electric fan it runs nice and cool. I did blow a fan fuse at hte melt and got it a little hot, but as soon as I could add more fluid it was all good.
You do have to remake the radiator brackets, but it was well worth it in my opinion.

[Nowhere]

Originally Posted by Grabberman

I've had a lot of luck mounting a sidekick radiator in my samurai. I picked it up for $20 from a guy who had an extra. The kick rad is about 1.5 times the size of the sammy, so with that and my electric fan it runs nice and cool. I did blow a fan fuse at hte melt and got it a little hot, but as soon as I could add more fluid it was all good.
You do have to remake the radiator brackets, but it was well worth it in my opinion.

I agree. An easy mount trick on the 1.6 rad is to use two drivers side radiator mounts, turn the mount around on the pass side, you'll see how it works. Either weld or bolt/screw the mounts to the radiator.

The 1.6 FAN BLADE is larger than the samura (not by much). The petroworks 3 core radiator is a VERY BAD IDEA if you MUD (personal experience, gets clogged VERY easily). However, the petroworks direct drive fan looks like a good buy. A flexalite model 110 will fit perfectly over a samurai radiator and should keep you nice and cool.

Options:

petroworks 3 core 200 bux
New 1.6 radiator 130 (www.radiatorbarn.com)
New fan clutch 100 (expensive!)
Direct drive fan 100 (from petroworks.com)
Flexalite 110 fan 130

My sugguestion is to go with a new 1.6 radiator, fab up some mounts, and use the petroworks direct drive fan with no shroud.

[ZukiMonster]

What about a Swift Rad ? They come with an electric fan

There are tons of them in the junkyard

I just asked myself last week if I could just put one in mine

[OKIE ZUK]

Use the electric fan off a Sami condenser. Fits perfect.

[DemoMike]

Originally Posted by Nowhere

.....
My sugguestion is to go with a new 1.6 radiator, fab up some mounts, and use the petroworks direct drive fan with no shroud.

Pretty sure this interferes with the steering box when its in the stock location...

[Grabberman]

Originally Posted by DemoMike

Pretty sure this interferes with the steering box when its in the stock location...

It might, I have a track kick powersteering and I just off set the radiator to the passenger side a little, fits nice.

[Hvy_Chevy]

would a Taurus fan fit? they are cheap in junk yards and work great.

[Nowhere]

Originally Posted by DemoMike

Pretty sure this interferes with the steering box when its in the stock location...

Stock box, no (very close). P/S box, I have no idea..

[shmoesmith]

so, what about the cheap electric fans you can put infront of your radiator? Are they not even worth it?

[88zuk]

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

so, what about the cheap electric fans you can put infront of your radiator? Are they not even worth it?

they will cool down the radiator if you can get it right infront of the radiator

[Nowhere]

Originally Posted by Nowhere

Stock box, no (very close). P/S box, I have no idea..

"worth it", hmmmm, if WATER is involved, my opinion says no. If DEEP water is involved, yes (standard fan may distroy radiator).

The cheapies avail at your local auto parts place don't move nearly as much air as the flexalite ones (they are usually 2x more expensive, 130 vs 65..).
Space will limit you to a 12" fan vs the nice biggums..

My opinion says if you're set on electric, get a flexalite type of fan. See if they have an extended warranty, my 110 motor smoked at just over a year.

[Hvy_Chevy]

Taurus fan motor at (I think) autozone with lifetime warranty is like $70

[ZukiMonster]

Allright

I MUST change my rad

So, If I take two driver side Rad mounts and I put the other on the passenger side, it will perfectly bolt in place

Then, the 1.6 Rad will not intefer with the Steering box

AFTER THIS, What belt do you put in if you delete the belt driven fan and put a Kick Fan or a Swift One

I suggested a swift rad, but no one did really care...

Thanks for Answering guys, I'm in very hard overheating problems

[MRfuelish]

use the same belt unless you don't want water pump action.

[Nowhere]

Originally Posted by ZukiMonster

Allright

I MUST change my rad

So, If I take two driver side Rad mounts and I put the other on the passenger side, it will perfectly bolt in place

Then, the 1.6 Rad will not intefer with the Steering box

AFTER THIS, What belt do you put in if you delete the belt driven fan and put a Kick Fan or a Swift One

I suggested a swift rad, but no one did really care...

Thanks for Answering guys, I'm in very hard overheating problems

The radiator will fit nicely with 2 driver side STOCK rad mounts. You have to either weld or fab something to attach the brackets to the larger radiator though. Some 1" wide plate with some sheet metal screws? Welding? It will not use the stock 1.6 rad mounts for this modification. I'll take some pictures if you want?