So I installed a 3 row aftermarket radiator. Haven't had any problems yet but I still need to drive it long distances in this AZ heat. I had to get my emissions done, so I went today and passed. The technician heard a noise coming from the engine and thought it was the fuel pump, turns out it was the electric fan rubbing against the tensioner pulley. When I got home I noticed some chunks missing on the fan but it wasn't horribly messed up. Upon opening the hood, it was really hot. of course but more so since the fan wasn't spinning. I am not sure if I fried the motor. Any ideas on how I can give the fan more space so it doesnt hit the tensioner pulley?

 

I guess if I was having this problem I would check out the Ford Taurus electric fan mod that I have read about here and there.
Maybe it is not quite so thick and would solve the problem.
My understanding is that it does push more air.

EDIT: Never mind. Looks like that replaces the mechanical fan.

 

There should be a good amount of space for that stock fan. Some picks from above and below might help. Also a pic with the upper radiator support removed.

 

Motor mounts the root cause?

 

This shouldnt be a problem as I replaced them with Brown Dog a few years back.

Also, does anyone know what the capacity of a stock radiator is? And I am not including the whole system, just the radiator itself? I kept my old radiator just in case I had problems. I replaced that older one b/c I was having chunky radiator fluid build up and thought a thorough flush and new radiator would help.

 

Nothing is out of sort. Everything fit normally and nothing was in the way. I had to cut the metal top piece that goes from one side to the other for the radiator cap but that was it. Oh and I had to modify the quick disconnect trans line fitting on the radiator because it was rounded, but I drove it and it doesnt seem to leak. The only issue is the fan rubbing.

You can see how close the fan is to the power steering pulley.

From below, the radiator in its mounting locations where it sits in the unibody.

Other pic from underneath and the mounting location.

Just a closer pic like the first pic.

 

I had the same problem with my radiator I just cut new slots closer to the radiator with a dremel and fixed the problem .

 

I need to get the dremel out and try it out, otherwise I'll be changing back to my old radiator that I almost threw away.

 

Thats strange..i have the cfs 3 row and i have almost 2 inches between the fan and the pulley i will try and send pictures later

 

If you had to cut or change anything to put the new radiator in, then the radiator is the problem, its not made to fit correctly, probably due to the 3 row core.

The back side of the radiator is sitting closer to the engine, and since that is where the fan mounts, it is too....too close.


if it's hitting there, I'd check to see how much room the mechanical fan has...can't be much. Guessing this wasn't a name brand radiator either.......


.

 

If you look at the picture showing the top with the cover...there should be a bolt sticking thru each of the oval holes...these bolts are the isolators that should bolt to the radiator and keep the top of the radiator in the correct place...dont see anything to secure the top of the radiator

 

Also there should be 5 horizontal studs that are part of the front grill that stick thru the right angle plate...that pulls the plate towards the front of the compartment that and the isolator mounts properly position the radiator in the compartment and gives you the correct clearances...you seem to have none of that...will have pictures by monday

 

The top piece that runs the length of the radiator and secures it to the rest of the jeep, i ended up modifying. The part that rolls over near the attachment points I cut off on both sides. Turns out that the passenger side didn't need to be cut. After I made the change there was plenty of room. So far it's fixed.

 

This is what mine looks like





with a CFS 3 row ...similar to my stock set up

 

[QUOTE=bluejeep2001;3619729]This is what mine looks like





with a CFS 3 row ...similar to my stock set up[/QUOTE
I'm not sure why mine is like it is. From what I can tell it hasn't had any front end damage.
Do the red accessories match the exterior of the jeep? Is the engine block red too?