Rear mounted radiator - Cooling in limited space?
Here's a question that maybe you'll be able to give advice on:
I built an International Loadstar. I swapped a cummins common rail in, threw it on a 2006 Dodge 3500 chassis, and bagged it.
To save space in the engine bay, rather than doing some cutting and even more fabricating, I relocated the radiator to the rear. I currently have it mounted at about a 45 degree angle, sideways, so that it'll fit. I have a single Mishimoto electric fan on it now in pushing configuration due to there being a deckplate above that covers the rear frame.
It worked fine in standard temps (70-80 degrees). The problem is I live in Arizona, where ambient temps are extreme and the road is even hotter.
I'm looking for additional solutions to my cooling. I'd really like to improve the efficiency of the radiator. The problem is I don't have much room to work with. Like I may have an inch at the tightest spot of clearance over the radiator. I did do some things, like fabbing a duct for the intercooler, built a more efficient intake, added a bigger surge tank, rerouted some lines, and put on a more appropriate turbo (the one that was on it when I got it was an ebay turbo...I put a slightly smaller BorgWarner on it). Now it's at least not overheating, but I feel like I could get better temps (especially when it hits summer) if I address my radiator.
I was thinking I could add some louvers to the deck plate overtop the radiator, but I'm not sure that would be enough. I also don't know nearly enough to determine if my single 16in fan would be better than 2 12in fans.
Any ideas (besides relocating the radiator to the front. I'd like to keep it where it is if possible)?