Sunday, July 4, 2010

Test Fit & Install Radiator, Shroud, and Fan – 4 Hours

Although the shroud and fan had been test fit and assembled, this assembly required attaching to the radiator, and the radiator mounted to the frame.

What was not anticipated was that the shroud required modifying to clear the radiator inlet pipe (see picture).

The shroud and fan are bolted to the radiator in four places with ¼” stainless bolts, the Factory Five frame has mounting lugs pre-welded, but require drilling.

Note: the radiator needs offsetting approximately 5/8” from center to easy the routing of the lower radiator outlet pipe. The three aluminum front nose panels reflect this offset and are not cut symmetrically.

As the radiator flange already has holes and slots pre-cut I decided to use the slots as this would allow some left to right adjustment of the radiator assembly during final assembly.



Factory Five relies on zip tie’s to hold the bottom of the radiator in position until the body is fitted, the aluminum panels mentioned above are then screwed and riveted into place to support the radiator. Not being keen on this idea, the Breeze “radiator chin strap” was installed.

The Breeze strap is simple to install but effective, as it easily allows the radiator to be installed at the 51 degrees from horizontal suggested.




All the above will be removed for engine installation, the shroud will be powder coated black, and strips of rubber will used between the shroud / radiator and the radiator / frame to absorb vibration, and allow some movement following expansion contraction of the radiator through various heat cycles.

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