Fan hit radiator!!

[Daniel Black]

I've put almost 300 miles on my 302 swapped '87 Ranger. The other day I really packed it into a left hand turn and heard something rattle, then I saw the steam. Has anyone else had this problem? It had enough clearance the first 300 miles, what happened? I had a basic 1-row radiator from a '90 2.9 parts truck I have and had an 18" flex fan. I can't come up with a good explanation on how the motor and trans could come forward or how the core support could move back. I didn't cut my core support for the swap, everything is still spot welded together from the factory. I had about this much room before.


It just caught enough to bend the metal lip and let it leak where the plastic tank joins.

 

[Snoranger]

Have you ever replaced the cab/ rad support bushings? If not they're 32 years old. Maybe the engine didn't move that much.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

What engine did you take out of that truck?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That looks to be about 1/2" space. IMO not enough. Any way to shorten the pump spacer?

 

[Bgunner]

Have you looked at the body mounts to be sure they are all tight and none are degraded? Also be sure the motor mounts are securely attached to the frame.

It is typical for the engine to rock sideways but not forward or back so be sure that all mounts (motor, trans and body) are all in good shape. Since it is V8 swapped you needed to weld in new mounts to the frame, check to be sure the welds have not broken.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Weld mounts to the frame? That is a new one...

Check bodymounts but 1/2” with a mechanical fan ain’t enough room.

 

[Bgunner]

Weld mounts to the frame? That is a new one...

No you don't weld the mounts to the frame but to need to weld motor mount mounts to the frame. ( a place to mount the mounts if you get my drift. ) This is where they crack usually due to improper strength of the welds.

 

[Dirtman]

Welding is hot.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No you don't weld the mounts to the frame but to need to weld motor mount mounts to the frame. ( a place to mount the mounts if you get my drift. ) This is where they crack usually due to improper strength of the welds.

I drilled holes and bolted in V8 mounts. Others make plates to mounts the V8 to factory V6 mounts which also works well.

Never heard of welding.

 

[bobbywalter]

My frame rails would walk over 2 inches left to right from fore to aft....twisting my rig up wheeling.

Your not going to have that problem on the street, but 1 in is minimum. You can get away with half. Until. You don't.


Not sure I would weld perches to the frame .

 

[Dirtman]

Never heard of welding.

Welding is when you heat up two peices of metal to bond them together.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

The fan is most definitely way too close to the radiator..

 

[Daniel Black]

What engine did you take out of that truck?

The motor came out of a '70 F100 but the pulleys and alt. bracket I swiped off an early '80s F150. That's why I had to have a 1" fan spacer, to clear the bottom 3-groove pulley.

 

[Daniel Black]

I've never looked at the body mounts honestly. I got my pulleys off a truck that had alt, PS, and a smog pump so it has 3-grooves. I'm trying to find a single groove set just for my alt then I could take off the 1" fan spacer or at least use a 1/2" one. My mounts are bolted to the frame as per the instructions.

 

[Daniel Black]

What engine did you take out of that truck?

The truck was originally a 2.0, then a 2.3.