Aluminum Radiator

[VX KAT]

My trusted mechanics shop replaced my radiator with a terrible radiator that is not getting the job done, so I placed an order for one of these from Ron Davis today, should be here in 3 weeks.

Great choice! I'm now SURE I've fixed my overheating problem!
This year in Moab, ran with full A/C with air temp 94, going really slow on trails - Water temp stayed between 180 - 195, and hit 207 once when climbing slowly.
You'll love it in Houston!!

[LittleBeast]

So my mechanic said he would be willing to install the Ron Davis aluminum radiator and new fan shroud at no cost since I was not happy with the one his guy installed. So I got the first piece of the puzzle. FF Dynamics 16" Extreme Duty radiator cooling fan:

[AZOutlaw]

VX Kat, glad to see that the radiator has helped. I met Ron through work, and would definitely buy from him- he is a really nice guy. Have you spent any summer days (110+ degree)down in Phx with that radiator? any issues when it gets really hot here?

[LittleBeast]

Radiator has been working like a charm, however my problem ended up being the fan clutch and the FF Dynamics electric fan was not powerful enough to suck air through the thicker Ron Davis radiator. Now that I have the aluminum radiator and new fan clutch installed I have not gone over 180 degrees in 100+ Houston humidity. Pleased so far, but I would say most overheating issues can be solved with a new $100 fan clutch from AutoZone or amazon.

[VX KAT]

Radiator has been working like a charm, however my problem ended up being the fan clutch and the FF Dynamics electric fan was not powerful enough to suck air through the thicker Ron Davis radiator. Now that I have the aluminum radiator and new fan clutch installed I have not gone over 180 degrees in 100+ Houston humidity. Pleased so far, but I would say most overheating issues can be solved with a new $100 fan clutch from AutoZone or amazon.

Actually, Bill Williamson at RD Radiator advised me against putting an auxilliary fan on as it would actually cause a decrease in air flow as it actually blocks airflow and only about 30% gets through.
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...1&postcount=19

And it was the same for me basically, my problem wasn't fully resolved either until I replaced the fan clutch (and redesigned fan blade).

I went with OEM cuz somebody mentioned they'd tried several aftermarket f.c.'s and they'd and their overheating wasn't resolved until they tried the OEM f.c. Think it was VXorado.

[LittleBeast]

Actually, Bill Williamson at RD Radiator advised me against putting an auxilliary fan on as it would actually cause a decrease in air flow as it actually blocks airflow and only about 30% gets through.
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...1&postcount=19

And it was the same for me basically, my problem wasn't fully resolved either until I replaced the fan clutch (and redesigned fan blade).

I went with OEM cuz somebody mentioned they'd tried several aftermarket f.c.'s and they'd and their overheating wasn't resolved until they tried the OEM f.c. Think it was VXorado.

The FF Dynamics electric fan I tried actually replaced the stock fan with fan clutch and the fan shroud, but it was not strong enough for the thicker Ron Davis aluminum radiator. The "auxilary fan" added to the front of the condenser (not the radiator) actually does help keep the A/C compressor happy in hotter weather. Two totally different things though. Auxilary fan cools condenser (A/C) and main fan with clutch cools radiator.

I got a $90 fan clutch from AutoZone and it is working better then the stock one ever did (hopefully it will last). If we order a new fan clutch from Isuzu we are forced to get a new fan and fan clutch, I believe Merlin quoted me somewhere just above $300 for both because our older design is not avaliable anymore.

[VX KAT]

Oh, I thought the FF Dynamics fan was for in front, like a few other owners have done. My bad.

I know what you mean about the redesigned OEM fan clutch and fan blade, as I had to buy them both, and they were spendy. But since I can't do any of this wrenching myself, I want it to last another 12 years.
Merlin told me the redesigned fan blade is supposed to improve air flow, and I think supposed to be quieter too.

Glad you solved your problem too!

AZOutlaw- I was running around PHX all afternoon today, water temp never went above 184. I know it wasn't the hottest day, maybe 100-102 ? But it was all stop and go, and short hops, with full A/C and no problem.

[LittleBeast]

I might eventually look into the new fan and fan clutch from Isuzu, sounds intriguing. Mine sounds like a fighter jet taking off now :-)

[VX crazy]

Sue thanks for sending this to me, as I am too lazy to search here lol, anyone know temp values before and after this? Anyone else have this radiator? I would love to know a temp number that Sue ran in AZ heat with that new radiator.

[VX crazy]

Weird these posts with my answers didn't show up until I posted this......

[VX crazy]

Ryan do you remember what brand fan clutch you got? I see 2 on amazon and a third on autozone.......

[LittleBeast]

I just got the one from AutoZone. It is louder but does its job better then the factory one did.

[LittleBeast]

Since I got the Ron Davis radiator and the new clutch the VX has not gone over 180. Before I was getting to 210 or so every time I was sitting in traffic.

[VXorado]

Littlebeast, I bet you have the Torqflo... I ran that one years ago and it's a bit of a power suck...

Also, the torqflo fan clutch works very well at cooling the engine. It makes the engine sound like a semi (all fan sound) and pulls a noticeable amount of power from the engine. I couldn't handle the sound after a couple months and replaced it with a another brand.

After getting tired of the "semi truck fan," I went to Pepboys where I purchased another aftermarket fan clutch (It was blue-Hayden?). Sounded normal again but my engine started running hot again in hot weather+A/C. So I decided to bite the bullet for the FFD electric fans and immediately the engine ran hotter all the time. I ran the FFD fans for a couple months but it was during the winter and was worried I would get stranded somewhere on the first warm Spring day. A month before Moab 2012, I desperately pulled a junkyard OEM fan clutch off an older Isuzu Rodeo and BAM, problem solved. You can hear the fan but it's much less noticeable than the torqflo and I can run A/C whenever & wherever (i.e. stopped on a trail in Moab with 95 Degree weather).

Moral of the story? Start small and know that the aftermarket brands are not all created equal (or spec'd the same ). In a pinch, the AutoZone Torqflo clutch will cool the engine but you'll definitely notice (and hear) it!!! The Rodeo's may have come with a better fan clutch than the VXes or it's just spec'd to pull a bit more air through the radiator. It's possible a 1st gen Rodeo aftermarket fan clutch might work the same as my OEM Rodeo junkyard clutch. If that doesn't fix the issue, I would move to a new radiator. Definitely skip the FFD fan setup and save yourself some hard earned cash (or if you want one, I'll sell it to you CHEAP).

[LittleBeast]

Haha, same here, I will sell you the FFD fan for cheap as well, but it's not going to help you.