MC9 Radiator blowers and radiators

[MC8Mike]

Hi all, I'm new to forum and this is my first post. I've got a MC8 and I'm looking to up grade the radiators and blowers and I was wondering if all the MC9s had larger blowers and rads. I've been trying to find the diameter of the bigger blowers over the standard 8 blowers and have had no luck finding specs. I have an 8v92 lurking in my shop but don't even want to consider doing the swap until I have some better cooling parts.

[James77MCI8]

I think the 9 radiators are taller. I believe you can get the 8 re-cored with more tubes. Make sure that the seals are good around the  radiators. You can change the pulley on the gearbox to speed up the fans.

[MC8Mike]

Yea I'm not sure, I was led to believe that they would fit, there is a rad on ebay now that the seller says is for a 9 but the part number shown in the auction is the same number as my 8 takes. I'm pretty much confused about rads and blowers at this point, thanks.

[Happycampersrus]

All you need to know by the man!!

http://www.gumpydog.com/Bus/MC9_WIP/Mechanical/Radiators_And_Blowers/radiators_and_blowers.htm

[MC8Mike]

Thanks for the link.

[RickB]

Mike,

I did the whole rebuild thing last winter and it far exceeded my expectations. Diesel radiator in Chicago was the company that Gumpy and I both used. You can get most rebuild parts from Mohawk. I don't know about dimensions of the radiators for the 8 but I think if you are seriously considering the 8V92 I would get the larger102a3 radiator and find a way to make them fit. They were about $1000 each a year ago.
If you need part#'s go to Gumpy's sire I'm pretty sure the #'s you need are all there.

I'm not sure of the difference in the in the squirrel cage shrouds or scroll's as they are usually referred to and the squirrel cage circumference may be different but the one thing I'm sure is quite different is the size of the outlet rectangles into the engine bay itself. They are much larger on some of the 9's but people like a previous owner of my 9 just enlarge the outlet size and frame it with steel. I am not near my bus so I can't give you dimensions but I'm sure someone here will chime in with the differing dimensions.

Lastly, If you are going to go through the expense of adding radiators I would suggest that you do all the seals. The ones around the radiator itself, the access doors to the radiators and the scroll seals themselves which are located on the ends of the shrouds/scrolls. The object of the game is you want as much air as possible going through your radiators and as little as possible getting into the engine compartment by any other route. If you do it right, when you're done your motor should pull a piece of paper out of your hand and into the radiator grill from about a foot away.

Burt at ABC in Faribault Minnesota had some used 102A3 and MCI 12 blower assemblies for sale they come with most of what you'll need, smaller pulley, big squirrel cage fans, and Mohawk sells the speedy sleaves and bearings you'll need to rebuild the blower gearbox.

It will be alot of work but you'll save thousands in labor. I'm not sure where you live but Cand J coach here in Minneapolis has rebuilt gearbox assemblies minus the scrolls and the pulley if you want to avoid some of the work.

Good luck and let me know if you need help.

Craigs (Gumpy) site was really helpful to do it right.

Rick

[MC8Mike]

Thanks for the reply, I live in Nevada but I'll get a hold of them and see what they want to ship the parts. Rebuilding he blower discharge openings need to be done on my 8 as it sits. It looks like it had fan or gear box failure and tore up the openings some. There are pieces of aluminum riveted  around to restore the openings. A real hack job.

[RickB]

I just sent this to Mike and figured I would put it on here as well for any lurkers that are considering a cooling system upgrade. On a sad note as I was searching through the posts for this I found alot of dialogue between myself and our friend Sammy who we lost not long after these posts. What a great guy... and so helpful. Something to keep in mind next time we start the oil viscosity, antifreeze or biofuel discussions/wars. We aren't here forever and some things.... well some things are just not important when compared to losses like Sammy...

I miss him... wish he was still here doing what he did best. Helping us.

Rick B


Hey Mike,

Call Diesel Radiator Co for price and dimensions....http://www.kellysearch.com/us-company-900599975.html

The part # for the larger radiator is 6K-1-5 they are not bigger height or widthwise than the stock 9 radiators but they are 30% thicker.

Because of that if your firewall and mount area is the same as mine you will have to cut a piece of the bulkhead out to fit the radiators in. It is about a 3"X5" hole that takes about 5 minutes with a grinding wheel to cut. The metal is thin there thank God because it is cramped quarters. I went and bought some ugly black sealer from 3M to seal the hole so no water could get in there and cause rust.

My gut tells me you have the same radiators that I had and you will be quite happy with the results of the bigger rad's and if you ever get really silly like me and consider a repower you could put a series 60 in (good luck with that truckload of work phew!) it would be more than enough cooling for you. The other selling point is it is actually more to recore and rebuild the smaller radiators than to buy the new ones outright.

I won't lie to you rebuilding the gearbox, getting the scrolls and the gearbox in (think hernia) is a really long and tough job but I never think about whether it was done right or not.

Rick

[MC8Mike]

Thanks for the info, I just talked to Diesel Radiator and was quoted 1425.00 each for the 102 rads. Gulp.
But I guess it is still better than cooking an engine and being broke down along side the road.

[John316]

Mike,

That doesn't seem too bad to me.

But then again, we have just redone our cooling system once, so I am not a pro (by any means), in that field.

God bless,

John

[RickB]

Wow! Is that including shipping? I am pasting in my quote of $985 per unit (before shipping)from last year.

I am hoping that they are including shipping in the total.

Let us know,

Rick

Quotation
To: Rick Barron From: Yadira Sosa
Co: Pages: 2
Phone: Phone: 708-345-9244 Ext: 102
Email: rick@rickbarronmusic.com Email: ysosa@dieselradiator.com
Re: Quote Request Date: 03/10/09
Quote/Bid #: 09-0432
Quote Expiration: One month from the date of this quotation.
Payment Terms: Prepaid
Lead Time/Delivery: 2 weeks ARO
FOB: Customer pays for freight
We are pleased to provide you with the following quote:
OEM
Part No.
Diesel Radiator
Part No.
Description Price Per
Unit
6K-1-5 DR2933-10 Radiator Assembly $985.00
All orders are subject to the Diesel Radiator Company Warranty included with this quote. The prices
issued in this quotation are based on this Warranty and no other terms and conditions will apply
without prior written approval from Diesel Radiator Company. The placement of your order at the
prices quoted signifies your acceptance of and compliance with these terms. Any other terms or
conditions included with your purchase order will be superceded by this quotation.

[MC8Mike]

Yes Yadira said that shipping was included at that price, takes a little of the sting out of it, just a little.

[RickB]

I imagine shipping was about half that for me because I'm 350 miles from Chicago. If you could find a fellow busnut on their way out to your neck of the woods. It would save you a bundle.

Rick

[MC8Mike]

My thanks to Rick and the other folks who helped and an update. Diesel Radiator had 2 rads in stock and will be shipping tomorrow and Burt at ABC had the MCI MC12 blowers and will be shipping in a few days. So I'm getting closer to the day when I can install my 8V92, again thanks to all.