GQ Wagon with 2" Body lift fan cowl issues

[Wanderin'Ozzie]

G'day, a while ago I fitted a 2' body lift kit (along with 2" suspension lift plus 33" tyres) to my GQ wagon.

The one thing thing I hadn't counted on or considered was the effect it would have on the fan shroud.

Whilst the radiator is mounted to the body, the engine etc is mounted to the chassis, so the original shroud is now all but useless.

I have bought a twin 12" thermo fan shroud from Fenix Radiators, however haven't fitted as yet.

Has anyone else come across this problem and if so, how did you get around it?

The Fenix shroud is brilliant and well made so I will give it a try, however if someone has a better soultion I would love to hear how you solved the problem.



Wanderin'

[MudRunnerTD]

i run the factory shroud with some of the bottom section removed. works fine for me.

[Rossco]

Yeah I just have the factory shroud but don't use the bottom bit, works well with 2" body lift. Not familiar with the Fenix shroud, but could probably just trim it at the bottom to suit. Grinder works well.

[BigRAWesty]

There's a bottom section which unclipps to allow the shroud to be removed while fan is still on.
So by removing it you should have plenty of room.

[Agronaught]

The bottom of my radiator shroud was broken when I bought the car and I never got around to replacing it, although it is on the list.

I've had to remove the steel plating under the bull bar to keep the engine from overheating under load and always thought the missing lower shroud may be a contributor.

Is the suggestion that the list shroud isn't necessary with a lift?

When I have time i was planning on cutting out several ventilation holes in the steel plate and adding a mesh to improve the airflow while getting the limited benefit the plates provide.

[threedogs]

I would be keeping as much shroud around the fan as possible for maximum air drawing affect.
Remove too much and it might cause overheating problems, shroud is there for a reason
removing part of it may comprimise your cooling.
Dont you lower the radiator so everything lines up again

[Wanderin'Ozzie]

Yeah , have taken the lower piece off already, however with the summer temperatures over 40 degrees the temp runs a tad too high for my liking.

The Fenix shroud fits the radiator to perfection but runs 2 x 12 inch electric thermo fans.

Will fit to my GQ as temps here are mid 40s at present, so will be a great shakedown test.

Thanks for the feed back.

[threedogs]

keeps us updated once its fitted please

[Wanderin'Ozzie]

Thanks 3 dogs, hadn't looked at lowering the radiator until now. There would be a few issues with Air Con condenser requiring remount to keep it in good air flow. Nothing that cannot be overcome though. I agree that the cowl is an important part of cooling, especially in high ambient temperatures and in off-road mode.

[tattoo001]

i have the same problem, but after going through everything you're much better off getting a new genuine fan hub and stock shroud....

unless youre going to run twin spal fans (which will draw a lot of power - which you will need a bigger alternator for - which turned me off) - after market 'twin thermos' off ebay and the like will be nothing to what a working viscous fan hub will suck - even with the bottom of the shroud gone :)

that being said, ive heard falcon au? fans and shrouds work well with less draw?????????????


id stay with stock, put in an aftermarket temp gauge and make sure your hub is A1

[BigRAWesty]

What maintenance has been done to the cooling system lately.
Could be due for a flush and over haul.

[Gutsquisher Media]

Had the same issue as OP and did the same as all other posters and removed the insert at the bottom of the shroud, which was fine until I decided to put the AC back in. On any day above 36 it ran to hot.

I went to see a Auto AC installer about the problem and he instantly pointed out the fan and shroud was the issue and went and proved it there and then. He placed a anemometer in front of the radiator it read 2.5Km/h placed it above the gap in the shroud it read 8.5Km/h (the Troll was at normal running temp AC off) turned AC on front went to 2.7Km/h, above gap 8.7Km/h (this is due to the electric fan turning on with the AC). He then cut a stiff piece of cardboard and fixed it to the gap between the shroud and the fan as it would of been without the body lift, front of Rad 5.9Km/h and 6.1Km/h with AC on.

This is how I ended fixing it

56208
56207

now temps are back to normal and recover faster after giving the Troll a flogging.