MadTaco Build

Another trip to New Mexico, VLA

 

Maybe the third time is the charm...

 

Fingers crossed!

 

I drove to Alpine and it hovered around 188° F on the highway, it got up to 194° F climbing the Alpine divide. Going down it got all the way down to 150.4° F and stayed around 178° F for most of the trip home.
I don't know what to think of wide temperature range on this 60 mile trip.
The stock radiator would stay around 188° F on the highway, climb to 202° F climbing the hill, but it would not get below 178.8° F going downhill.

 

My drive out to Lone Pine, CA this past weekend, I cut thru Death Valley. Climbing out of There, the truck saw 211 max and I was seeing 173 going down extended grades. I have a Denso replacement in the truck. I might look into a custom made radiator at some point since it's difficult to have any real faith in the Champions right now. Hopefully this 3rd ones holds up for you.

 

A little update on my third champion aluminum radiator. Since my last post I have driven the same route as before several times.
Now the engine temperature will rise to 192° F climbing hills, it will run 188° F on the flats and 184°F going down hill.
The engine has also been maintaining heat longer than usual.
So tonight I drained the coolant again and removed the thermostat cover, and this piece of aluminum fell out of the end of the thermostat when I removed it.

I'm really not impressed with champions quality control. Now I need to decide if I want to put the URD 170° or Toyota 180° thermostat in.

 

...hope that is all of the gunk in your system...but I would be very concerned as I am sure you are. Is the risk on the champion worth the gains?? What is your alternative, a
custom radiator from a place like McCullough Aluminum radiators in Kingman can't be that bad of a delta...(maybe I am totally out of my mind on this??)
Call 928)681-6716 or toll free (866) ALUMRAD. I got great service from this guy for my Landcruiser, maybe he can do something up for your need?

 

I drove my little trip up the mountain and back. High temp was 184° F climbing the hills, 179° F on the flats and 176° F going down hill.
I will be keeping an eye on this one, again...
And by up the mountain, I mean going from 7000 feet elevation to 8500 feet elevation and a 60 mile round trip.

 

I may have to look in to this, we shall see. Thank you.

 

Most welcome! If I remember right, (been 3 years ago) the guy's name is Ed and you tell him your dimensions of what room you have and he can make you up a radiator
that fits right and cools great. My LC has a SBC mildly warmed over, and he built me a perfect crossflow unit that works like a champ. Very happy with his workmanship and attention to details. Of course it wasn't inexpensive either, but you get what you pay for..

 

And so begins another saga in the neverending maintenance...

 

I made it this far today. Replace the rear main seal, new flywheel and new Marlin Crawler HD clutch assembly.

 

How many miles on that clutch you replaced? Why a new flywheel, was it gouged up some??

 

I don't know the mileage on the clutch, it was a Japanese one though. The throw out bearing was going bad and the clutch had been slipped a few times, that is why I replaced it. I replaced the flywheel because there is no place nearby that can machine it, and I didn't want to be down for a few weeks waiting on it.
So if anyone is looking for a factory 3.4 flywheel, I have one.

 

All back together, nice and quiet now. I am leaving the skid plates off so that I can inspect everything after a good shakedown.

I also installed a set of Spiker Engineering hood struts. I should have done this years ago.

 

Looks great, enjoy!

 

Just installed some second hand redlines last weekend and I 100% agree. Between that and my ultragauge I feel like I have a modern car for once haha

 

Oh I am, I have already opened my hood a half dozen times, just for fun!

 

Haha, that is a well known phenomenon after getting these hood struts

 

I took a lot of shortcuts with my wiring in the past. Well today I pulled all of the excess wire and redid the rest. I still need to redo the wiring to the rear and bed of the truck.
This is the mess I removed.