Chasing a dream

Just saw your Grand Canyon video. Your hikes reminded me of our trip -- we were staying in the campground on the North rim. After sunset, when it got hard dark, from the lodge patio we could see the late-straggler hikers on the trails going up on the South side. We'd just see their headlamps and flashlights, when they apparently stopped for a breath and turned to "look" out. About every ten feet. Kinda funny watching, but BTDT before.
 
We are in Mesa Verde Colorado now. Truck did ok coming here, with the new L5P oil cooler I can tell it's doing good, as I have much higher oil pressure at higher temps than I've ever had. It still gets hot though. I never had to pull over, but I had to turn the heat on a bunch. Actually, since putting the oil cooler on it seems to have added a larger load to the cooling system, I can hit 230* with just the buggy on the back and no camper. I replaced the fan clutch AGAIN, for the 4th time. I bought a different brand this time, and I can actually hear it engage around 225-230 and the temp drops a lot, even going up hill when that happens.

I still have the the one I took off, and plan top JB weld that thing to just be a fixed hub so the fan will be on all the time. I am tempted to have the water pump replaced, but I know it won't be cheap, and I'm bouncing around every 2 weeks again. that water pump in theory should only have 40k on it.
IMG_2754.jpeg


Random pic because tacos are life.
 
untchabl said:
Are you planning to keep working through the issues with the Kodiak or are you actively looking for a different tow rig?
Click to expand...

I'm happy with the power and everything else this truck offers. I just wish it would stay cool. I am even willing to add an auxiliary radiator if I have to. I wouldn't turn down the right truck if the deal was good but for now just planning to keep pushing this thing.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Just curious, have you verified that the temp sensor/gauge are correct?
Click to expand...
Get out of here with this request for data and shit. What fun is that?
We just need to know if Amazon or Ebay fans cool better.

JK, Love ya, Phillip
 
If I'm not mistaken...somebody does make a solid hub for these fans. Maybe Kennedy? I'll look. You'll definitely notice it when it comes to fuel mileage though 😬

Not sure if I've mentioned this in the past, but they talk like these water pumps are the ticket.

Max-Flow High Performance Water Pump Kit (2001-2005) | DMAX Store

dmaxstore.com dmaxstore.com

If you need me to, I'll fly out and do the water pump. I aint skeered!
 
Kennedy doesn't show the solid hub any more, but he does list an upgraded fan clutch. It may very well be the same as some of the ones you've already tried. Tough saying without actually knowing.

 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Just curious, have you verified that the temp sensor/gauge are correct?
Click to expand...

Yeah I have checked with my temp gun and when pointed at the thermostat housing it matches what my CTS2 says. However I have not check when it’s “hot”
 
I've got two trucks with air driven fan clutches that have "gone bad" and are always on. You'll have extra noise and lower mpg but at least you'll know if it's a fan problem or not. Go ahead and put the jb weld version on
 
I did a deep dive in to this earlier this afternoon because....ADHD. I texted @77GreenMachine a handful of links.

I'm thinking if we can get the most air shoved IN the motor with the least amount of restriction and then get it OUT easily, that'll help reduce EGTs. As we know, EGTs/cylinder temps have a direct impact on heat put in to the cooling system.

I also found a thread about swapping to an LB7 pickup fan. The fans used on the Kodiaks and Topkick trucks are the exact same ones that GM used on the Trailblazers and Envoys with a 4.2l I6 motor. Now, if I could find an M36-2 threaded extension, that would be awesome. The factory fans have a dish in them that sits them furter forward, even when bolted to the back of the fan clutch. The pickup fans are flat. The idea being to keep the fan inside the fan shroud so it can focus on pulling air through said shroud. Getting more air drawn across the cooling stack is always a good idea.

Another interesting thing I ran across was the 07 and 08 intercoolers will fit the 03-06 Kodiak/Topkick trucks. The earlier ones had big ol' plastic side tanks that look like they kinda kill air flow, mostly because of internal webbing to keep them together. The aluminum ones would likely flow more.

And...if all that doesn't work...water/meth injection! Who doesn't love a good, chemical intercooler? Good thing is, you can turn it on and off and you'd only need to use it...well...when you needed to use it. Hill climbs and high altitude towing.

Aside from all that, it'd be time for a medium duty with a bigger/better engine setup.
 
awheelterd said:
We all know that a big ass hoodscoop is the answer.



Kinda serious though.
Click to expand...


I do believe that the later years actually did suck air through the side of the hood. It wasn't a ram air setup, but still better, I'd imagine.
 
This one does suck air from the side of the hood. It's not ram air, but it is cooler air. It would be awesome to have a scoop on that side intake. Maybe I can make a makeshift one as a test out of construction paper and duct tape. If it seems so be effective then maybe @WARRIORWELDING can fashion me up something fancy out of aluminum when I'm back in town.


Spoke to a shop today in Cortez, CO about the water pump and the possibility of it spinning on the shaft, or have a corroded impeller. He said he's seen the shaft spin one time. He also mentioned that it could be a head gasket, even without any of the normal signs. Which I believe was mentioned by @Ron earlier on.

I did read on some forums of it happening a handful of times. Some said the drive gear was spinning, one even said it fell off when removed.

However we discussed the fan clutch fiasco and he said with the massive drop in quality over the last couple years that it wouldn't surprise him and could be possible to have bad luck so many times in a row. With the current clutch actually dropping the temp once engaged around 230* when climbing, that kinda shows that it all works as it should when the fan is on. So I will be installing the Talton Special FFH (Fixed Fan Hub). All fab work done in house, by me. One off custom.
IMG_2842.jpeg
IMG_2841.jpeg




So if this makes the thing run way cooler, I am going to buy an OEM clutch, the AC Delco one and try that. If it still gets hot with this, then I have a bad water pump or a blown head gasket.


The shop I spoke to couldn't even take in any work till the 24th, so it wasn't really an option. But they were nice enough to spend about 30 minutes brainstorming with me. We agreed the "fixed" fan hub should let me know which direction to go.
 
Usually, with these, if there's a bad head gasket or a crack in a head, it'll pressurize the cooling system. That'll leave soot in the expansion tank or, after sitting for 6-8 hrs, the radiator hoses will still be hard.

Unless it's really bad or the oil cooler takes a dump, they won't mix oil and coolant.

My offer still stands to fly out and work on your truck 😁
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Usually, with these, if there's a bad head gasket or a crack in a head, it'll pressurize the cooling system. That'll leave soot in the expansion tank or, after sitting for 6-8 hrs, the radiator hoses will still be hard.

Unless it's really bad or the oil cooler takes a dump, they won't mix oil and coolant.

My offer still stands to fly out and work on your truck 😁
Click to expand...
If it's pressurizing the coolant, a combustion leak tester should detect it, I would think.
Amazon product ASIN B07RS3N98V
 
Is there any concern for the TSFFH being out of balance and inducing vibration into the rotating assembly?
 
It's mounted on a center hub. It'd have to be wayyy off balance to hurt anything, especially the actual rotating assembly.
 
braxton357 said:
People never worry about the china special fan blades 16" out.. I think there is a far lower concern of some epoxy around the hub throwing it off
Click to expand...
Point conceded fine sir.
Rock on
 
Back
Top