[fordforever]

Thinking of relocating my radiator to the rear to both protect it a bit more from stuff in front of me that I shouldn't hit and to improve the air flow in the engine compartment ... What would you suggest I use to run from the front of the engine to behind the cab in the bed ? ... Can I run rubber hose to the frame rails and then a metal pipe or tubing along the rail to the back ?

 

[griffy71]

Well, that is an intersting one..... I think a brush guard would be cheaper, but none of my business....

Onward, the frame rails and even the up pipe to the bed should all be pipe. Likely carbon steel or stainless. All flex hose will kill the pressure and flow. Make sure you allow plenty of room in the bed to get the air in and out of. Putting it up against the cab will just restrict it. You are also going to have to think about air vents. You are likely going to trap air in the engine going down and then back up again elevation wise. Make sure you put a good electric fan in there too. Beyond that i am at a loss for words.....

 

[fordforever]

Not too worried about the bed or vents for flow ... Gonna remove the bed entirely ... Just have the frame behind the cab ... Weight reallocation ... Also make it easier to get to the other things like dual long range fuel tanks and 4 batteries ... Also gonna run stacks so I don't have exhaust pipes running in the way ... Might have a roll cage on the frame behind the cab and mount the radiator and twin electric fans on that ... Just want to make sure the water gets from the engine to the radiator ... You think 2 inch stainless would be good enough? ...

 

[griffy71]

Oh the 2 inch would probably be fine. Use schedule 5. Keeps the weight off a little. If you are going to thread it use schedule 40. What are you doing? Baja?

 

[fordforever]

Baja ... Vegas ... Barstow ... Phoenix ... Used to do it on 2 wheels but getting too olde for that any more ... And thinking about moving down there as the weather here in Washington State has just about rusted all my joints ...

 

[PRDATR]

I'd be concerned that the waterpump may not have enough head to move the coolant at enough flow.

 

[claw444]

you may have to run a electric pump midway inline to help with the flow. i have seen the radiator relocate to the bed before. i never asked or looked to see if there was a second pump.

 

[fordforever]

Head will be changed as the radiator will be mounted a bit higher in relation to the engine than it was originally which will place the water pump about inline with the middle of the radiator ... Nice thing is the project will increase the water capacity of the system and using the pipes as mini radiators ...

 

[Rodeo1]

?

I wouldn't move it. If you have an emergency, or the mechanic doesn't install it properly, you could have a real headache to deal with.
If you run the hoses down the side, they could shake loose, be hit in a side on collision- there are a lot of things that could go wrong.
Why fix a good thing?