Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Need Cooling Help for Hemi Swap

Some more pics. Apologies for the poor focus on the Spal tag....my phone wouldn't focus.

Gonna go with the mechanical setup with OEM shroud, let's see if that's the secret sauce! If that doesn't work, the 850 Amp Camaro fan!
20251024_114349.jpg
20251024_114309.jpg
20251024_114236.jpg
20251024_114443.jpg
20251024_114248.jpg


20251024_114248.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Cooper
That is a older SPAL brushed fan. As has been said before the newer brushless fans are really a lot better. But looking at those pictures I'd think you might fit a mechanical fan in there.
Give me a while and I'll go out and measure my mechanical fan depth for you.
 
I’m pretty sure the stock TJ clutch is about 4” deep, so if you have at least 5.5” or so between the radiator fins and the base of the threads on the pulley I think you’ll be good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
You sirs, are all gentlemen and scholars. Thank you all for walking/talking me through. I've got a path forward, with a viable backup plan. Next thread......hmmm, what are y'all's thoughts on the upgrade to chromo shafts with 5x5.5 bolt pattern? I'm old school.....and with the planned 4.88s, might not be a bad idea to shut that front end down until needed?!? I'd miss the AEV wheels, but get bigger brakes and some beef in the process. I'll get another thread started when that time comes...... ;)
 
That is a older SPAL brushed fan. As has been said before the newer brushless fans are really a lot better. But looking at those pictures I'd think you might fit a mechanical fan in there.
Give me a while and I'll go out and measure my mechanical fan depth for you.

Awesome, thank you!!
 
You sirs, are all gentlemen and scholars. Thank you all for walking/talking me through. I've got a path forward, with a viable backup plan. Next thread......hmmm, what are y'all's thoughts on the upgrade to chromo shafts with 5x5.5 bolt pattern? I'm old school.....and with the planned 4.88s, might not be a bad idea to shut that front end down until needed?!? I'd miss the AEV wheels, but get bigger brakes and some beef in the process. I'll get another thread started when that time comes...... ;)

Why 4.88 gears? If you're going to go to 35" tires with the 42RLE you want to go as deep as possible which with the Dana 44 axles you can go to 5.38 gears with the stock Rubicon lockers.

I don't know enough about the BMB kits to say if you need to go to 5x5.5 or not. but there are plenty of people running the 5x4.5 with 35" tires.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
Why 4.88 gears? If you're going to go to 35" tires with the 42RLE you want to go as deep as possible which with the Dana 44 axles you can go to 5.38 gears with the stock Rubicon lockers.

I don't know enough about the BMB kits to say if you need to go to 5x5.5 or not. but there are plenty of people running the 5x4.5 with 35" tires.

It's got the 545rfe transmission. I'm not married to the idea of 4.88s, only that it would be 4.88 at a minimum. Also not married to the 5x5.5 either, but would like to upgrade to better shafts, etc. when the time comes. I'd like to jump to 17" wheels to get to Mr. Blaine's 17" brake kit, but again, I'd also be content with the AEV 16" wheels, 5x4.5, etc. Just trying to think of the next set of upgrades.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman
It's got the 545rfe transmission. I'm not married to the idea of 4.88s, only that it would be 4.88 at a minimum. Also not married to the 5x5.5 either, but would like to upgrade to better shafts, etc. when the time comes. I'd like to jump to 17" wheels to get to Mr. Blaine's 17" brake kit, but again, I'd also be content with the AEV 16" wheels, 5x4.5, etc. Just trying to think of the next set of upgrades.

Sorry I forgot... Was thinking of your other rig... Go play around on GrimmJeeper and play with different gear ratios. The 545RFE has the same O/D as the 42RLE but with the Hemi you don't notice it as much. Figure out where you want your cruising RPM's at and then pick the gear ratio that works for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
Sorry I forgot... Was thinking of your other rig... Go play around on GrimmJeeper and play with different gear ratios. The 545RFE has the same O/D as the 42RLE but with the Hemi you don't notice it as much. Figure out where you want your cruising RPM's at and then pick the gear ratio that works for that.

My other rig has the 6 speed manual, which I love! I'm gonna miss it!! :( I think I'll be happy with the auto though! Wish it had the 8 speed......

My most common stomping ground as far as hunting goes, is a accessed via a highway with 65 mph speed limit, and fairly heavily patrolled. It will rarely be in the interstate, but will be on state highways a lot. Gonna use the 80/20 rule....what highway speed limit will I be faced with 80% of the time, and then gear around that. Gotta figure out what cruise RPM the hemi likes....I've heard it doesn't mind revving on the highway, so I'm thinking somewhere in the 2500 RPM range. Thinking that 4.88 or 5.13 will be the ticket, but I'll keep running the scenarios, because the 5.38 option is also intriguing. Analysis paralysis is my downfall to be sure, but at the same time, I dig going through all of possibilities of a build.
 
My other rig has the 6 speed manual, which I love! I'm gonna miss it!! :( I think I'll be happy with the auto though! Wish it had the 8 speed......

My most common stomping ground as far as hunting goes, is a accessed via a highway with 65 mph speed limit, and fairly heavily patrolled. It will rarely be in the interstate, but will be on state highways a lot. Gonna use the 80/20 rule....what highway speed limit will I be faced with 80% of the time, and then gear around that. Gotta figure out what cruise RPM the hemi likes....I've heard it doesn't mind revving on the highway, so I'm thinking somewhere in the 2500 RPM range. Thinking that 4.88 or 5.13 will be the ticket, but I'll keep running the scenarios, because the 5.38 option is also intriguing. Analysis paralysis is my downfall to be sure, but at the same time, I dig going through all of possibilities of a build.

I've got a 8HP70 sitting in my garage just waiting for me to get all the kinks worked out on mine before I attempt to swap it in... If you're serious about the 8HP70 it's a COOL swap.

And since you have the 4:1 t-case you can run a slightly higher gear ratio for your highway driving.

I've got 5.13 gears in my axles but I honestly can't tell you what my RPM's are @ 70MPH since I haven't paid attention. But mine is a 10/90 rig... 10% street 90% off-road. I've got 38" tires on mine but here's am acceleration run with it up to 80 MPH.

 
I've got a 8HP70 sitting in my garage just waiting for me to get all the kinks worked out on mine before I attempt to swap it in... If you're serious about the 8HP70 it's a COOL swap.

And since you have the 4:1 t-case you can run a slightly higher gear ratio for your highway driving.

I've got 5.13 gears in my axles but I honestly can't tell you what my RPM's are @ 70MPH since I haven't paid attention. But mine is a 10/90 rig... 10% street 90% off-road. I've got 38" tires on mine but here's am acceleration run with it up to 80 MPH.


Great video! Love the sound......that's one thing I always missed driving the TJ was the lack of V8 exhaust note! All of my previous dailies were V8s (and shall be again.....muahahahaha!)

If/when the 545RFE goes south, I won't bother to rebuild, 8HP70 will be the upgrade!

Love the 241OR, easy to shift, robust, 4:1, etc. Wish Jeep used that on the 392 JL! I've got a CJ-6 project that will likely get an Atlas, but if I had a great front axle swap deal drop in my lap that happened to be driver side drop, I'd seriously consider the 241OR ahead of the Atlas. Not that I think it's better, but it's a cost effective alternative.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman
Great video! Love the sound......that's one thing I always missed driving the TJ was the lack of V8 exhaust note! All of my previous dailies were V8s (and shall be again.....muahahahaha!)

Mine was a 4 popper to start with so YES going to a V-8 was a lot of fun for me... I'm OLD so I have had a few Jeeps with V-8's in them.

If/when the 545RFE goes south, I won't bother to rebuild, 8HP70 will be the upgrade!

That 4.7:1 1st gear is awesome. There is a standalone wiring harness that makes it fairly easy to swap one in.

Love the 241OR, easy to shift, robust, 4:1, etc. Wish Jeep used that on the 392 JL! I've got a CJ-6 project that will likely get an Atlas, but if I had a great front axle swap deal drop in my lap that happened to be driver side drop, I'd seriously consider the 241OR ahead of the Atlas. Not that I think it's better, but it's a cost effective alternative.

Never had a 241 but I had the TeraLow 4:1 behind my 4 popper. The STaK's 3 speed has a 3.05:1 & 5.44:1 low ranges so it's a great case for those options. They had issues which made them have to close but I like mine.

Always wanted to own a CJ-6. They are cool rigs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
Cross Jeep just posted this rig on Instagram. Wasn't sure about the rules concerning poaching another companies photos, so here's the IG link (is that ok?). Anyhow, the last pic gives a shot of the engine compartment, and it's got the TJ shroud, with what I'm guessing is a mechanical fan. I'm guessing this is the setup they are speaking of when they tell me that they "had the best luck with the mechanical fan, so that was our go to setup as we closed out our TJ builds."

 
Here's that Jeep, And yes that radiator core is smaller than mine.

1761335613275.png


Love the color matched valve covers

1761335647356.png


And REALLY LOVE the Hood

1761335692362.png

1761335703222.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
Here's that Jeep, And yes that radiator core is smaller than mine.

View attachment 651070

Love the color matched valve covers

View attachment 651071

And REALLY LOVE the Hood

View attachment 651072
View attachment 651073

That's a great build! The price they're asking seems high, but I doubt you could build one for that amount of money. Looks like a laundry list of good stuff, even beyond how AEV spec'd them. While my AEV TJ doesn't have the custom pain, I will say that the hood is my favorite part of the build. Looking out over it as I drive never ceases to put a smile on my face!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman
That's a great build! The price they're asking seems high, but I doubt you could build one for that amount of money. Looks like a laundry list of good stuff, even beyond how AEV spec'd them. While my AEV TJ doesn't have the custom pain, I will say that the hood is my favorite part of the build. Looking out over it as I drive never ceases to put a smile on my face!

Ya $55K is a LOT for that... I'd hate to ever try to figure out what I've got invested into mine...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Agar426
I measured the fan clutch I have & it's 3.75" from the face of the clutch to the back of the part that threads onto the water pump. So I'd guess it's about 3.25" off the front of the water pump to the front of the clutch. The fan blades don't stick out past the clutch either. I can take pictures of it tomorrow if you need me to.
 
I measured the fan clutch I have & it's 3.75" from the face of the clutch to the back of the part that threads onto the water pump. So I'd guess it's about 3.25" off the front of the water pump to the front of the clutch. The fan blades don't stick out past the clutch either. I can take pictures of it tomorrow if you need me to.

Thank you sir! Very much appreciated! I think I have what I need for now, thank you! This thread has been a great deal of help v
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator