Geeb
Proven Member
- 384
- 47
- Apr 6, 2016
-
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Just finished the new shroud. Will fit 2 12s, like most others.. Once I fit them up I will cut the holes and bolt holes and such..
I got a big piece of galvanized steel and measured the height and width of the opening only in the radiator.
Cut it with and extra (about) 1 1/4" on each side (plus another 1/2" to bend it all the way overlapping to leave no sharp edges) in a kind of "+" shape so I could bend it in an open box shape. I took it to my neighbors friends shop hes a metal worker and he made the bends for me to make them straight
After I got the bends all correct, I scotch taped all the outside corners closed, just to give it a backing, and on the inside i filled the gaps with jb weld (again just using the tape as an initial backing, see close up pics below) then used L brackets to further brace the corners, with 1/4 inch self-tapping screws. The L brackets had a little obstruction in the corner so I grinded them smooth on the inside.. I'm sure you can get them without this, but i already had these. So I made them work.
Then I got some heavier gauge sheet metal and cut little brackets out of it and measured the bolt holes from the center out and drilled them, then measured the center of the holes to the edge of the shroud and made bends where they met
Then I sanded the meeting places with 60 grit, and set the unfinished shroud in place, along with the bent brackets to make sure everything met up where i wanted it to, bolted the brackets to the radiator individually, and everything fit great first time. (Phew.. *wipes swear off forehead*)
Then I took some more JB and jb welded them all in place, unbolted one bracket at a time, threw some jb on the rough sanded meeting places, stuck them on and bolted them back in place to make sure they would stay that way where they're supposed to. I then let it all dry for about 30 mins (using jb "kwik weld", 2 part mixture.. it sets fast.. So only mix a small ammout at a time.)
Then I unbolted the whole thing and they stuck where they were supposed to, but i still took 2 self tappers per bracket and threw them in to make sure it wouldn't go anywhere.
Once I had them in, voila, everything fit great. The only thing I have to do is wait for my 2 12" fans to get here, and when they do I'll cut the holes and drill the bolt holes.. But so far so good...
Oh yeah I also threw some soft weatherstripping where it meets the radiator to delete any noise vibration or anything like that..
...but I do have a question..
Once I'm done cutting out the fan holes, should I cut louvers in between like some aftermarket ones come with? Or just keep it simple like the mishimoto shrouds come...?
Seems like adding louvers would help flow since the fans being on the inside, make it a pull setup.. Or would it just make a dead zone of air flow, like the fans pull air through the louvers and back into the fan and back into the louvers etc etc, Instead of pulling it straight through the radiator...
Hmm.. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
I got a big piece of galvanized steel and measured the height and width of the opening only in the radiator.
Cut it with and extra (about) 1 1/4" on each side (plus another 1/2" to bend it all the way overlapping to leave no sharp edges) in a kind of "+" shape so I could bend it in an open box shape. I took it to my neighbors friends shop hes a metal worker and he made the bends for me to make them straight
After I got the bends all correct, I scotch taped all the outside corners closed, just to give it a backing, and on the inside i filled the gaps with jb weld (again just using the tape as an initial backing, see close up pics below) then used L brackets to further brace the corners, with 1/4 inch self-tapping screws. The L brackets had a little obstruction in the corner so I grinded them smooth on the inside.. I'm sure you can get them without this, but i already had these. So I made them work.
Then I got some heavier gauge sheet metal and cut little brackets out of it and measured the bolt holes from the center out and drilled them, then measured the center of the holes to the edge of the shroud and made bends where they met
Then I sanded the meeting places with 60 grit, and set the unfinished shroud in place, along with the bent brackets to make sure everything met up where i wanted it to, bolted the brackets to the radiator individually, and everything fit great first time. (Phew.. *wipes swear off forehead*)
Then I took some more JB and jb welded them all in place, unbolted one bracket at a time, threw some jb on the rough sanded meeting places, stuck them on and bolted them back in place to make sure they would stay that way where they're supposed to. I then let it all dry for about 30 mins (using jb "kwik weld", 2 part mixture.. it sets fast.. So only mix a small ammout at a time.)
Then I unbolted the whole thing and they stuck where they were supposed to, but i still took 2 self tappers per bracket and threw them in to make sure it wouldn't go anywhere.
Once I had them in, voila, everything fit great. The only thing I have to do is wait for my 2 12" fans to get here, and when they do I'll cut the holes and drill the bolt holes.. But so far so good...
Oh yeah I also threw some soft weatherstripping where it meets the radiator to delete any noise vibration or anything like that..
...but I do have a question..
Once I'm done cutting out the fan holes, should I cut louvers in between like some aftermarket ones come with? Or just keep it simple like the mishimoto shrouds come...?
Seems like adding louvers would help flow since the fans being on the inside, make it a pull setup.. Or would it just make a dead zone of air flow, like the fans pull air through the louvers and back into the fan and back into the louvers etc etc, Instead of pulling it straight through the radiator...
Hmm.. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.