Well, the past few days were a bit hectic and busy. After some delays, I got my dual core radiator and side exhaust from DelicaWorks
So, Thursday evening after work I started on the project list... flush coolant system, take out radiator, replace alternator boot, install new radiator, fill with new coolant, bleed air out of coolant system, weld on slanted bung to new exhaust, and then replace side exhaust. Not bad for the remaining 4 1/2 hours of daylight...
This is where things went wrong and I stopped taking pictures... Call it fate... So, the new radiator has the automatic transmission connections, but the old radiator had straight pipes, and the new one has bent ones. No biggie. Evan says the long one should go there, but the hose don't reach it... Swap the pipes (since they screw on) and... with a little patience, it fits! Phew... I fill and bleed the new radiator, and let's see how much time I have left... Oh geez. It's already past 9pm, and then sun is set. Do I have enough time to drill the hole in the exhaust for the AFR sensor, weld on the bung, weld on the bracket, take off the old exhaust, hang the new exhaust, clean up the driveway, and get to bed before I leave IN THE DELICA at 8am to drive into the mountains?
NOPE! Okay, let's clean up and call it a night.
So, with just the new dual core radiator I put the windows down and start the drive from San Diego up I-15/215 to US-395, to Big Pine and then up CA-168 into the White Mountain range. Going up the El Cajon Pass on I-15, things look MUCH cooler... Hopes are holding high for my upcoming trip to Colorado...
That's at a sustained 53-55 mph speed during the
whole grade. Max temperature on the radiator reached 215F at the top of the pass.
Headed up US-395 in low 90s weather at 65-70mph going up hills (slower), but pushing hard to get there quick. Met up with friends at Lone Pine, and then drove up to Big Pine to make the right onto CA-168...
Let's set the scene. The current temperature in the radiator is 220F, I've been driving hard for the past 5 hours (heat soak is at 100%), temperature is 95F, and I'm at 4,000ft elevation already... I have
9 miles of continuous 8% grade on a winding road to go up to my first turn at 7,400 ft of elevation, so heater goes on full. Needless to say, I had to pull over quickly. I ended up having my passenger ride in the other vehicle, and I opened the engine compartment with my windows down. Got up to 7,400ft for the turn and then made the right and continued up to Schulmann grove where the max temperature reached 246F, but I had to stop once at just below 10,000ft to let the temperature drop a bit. After a few minutes of cooling back down to 220F, we continued on the dirt road, now in 4WD, and after a few miles I HAD to close the engine hatch. Either heat goes out or dust comes in.
So, I reach the trail head at a new high temperature record...
Set up camp just at sunset, I camped in the Delica, next morning we did our hike to the summit and I made it. However, the next morning was fun, since the glow plugs weren't glowing, so used jumper cables to bypass the "super-glow" system to get it started.
Rolled down the hills and saw some amazing scenery.
Have a trip with the GF and her kids to Colorado in a few days, but with the overheating, (oh and the AC isn't working...) I can't see my Delica being able to make a 2,000 mile (with 55,000 ft of elevation gain) currently. I still have more work on dialing this in. Or keeping my speed/temperature down. So, on to plan B.
Will be putting on the side exhaust and that should help some, but I need to check and see if all of my cooling systems are working (fans/lines/etc).
More will be revealed!
