Don't tighten the fan until you have the lower shroud installed.

But, to tighten it up some, just put a wrench on it, smack the wrench with a hammer a couple times. Should be good. The mere act of the engine turning the fan tends to tighten it.

 

The spring is a left over from the days of non-pressurized cooling systems. The reason was to keep the hose from sucking closed with the engine running. That, and the improved cooling systems don't have to move as much coolant to keep the engine cool, means the pumps don't flow as much. Flat head Ford V-8's even used two water pumps. One for each bank. I've replaced many lower hoses over the years that had springs with replacements that didn't have them. Sometimes, engineers get a little lazy. Hence all the cut down engines over the years. The 3.9 Magnum was a 5.2 with two cylinders removed but the front end was the same so water pumps, brackets and such were reused. GM did it with the 4.3, Ford had a whole range of modular engines. The 4.6 was designed as two 4 bangers fused together.

In short, don't worry about the lack of a spring.

 

Educational and informative. Thanks. I'll be ready to roll once I find a lower shroud. Sounds like I best stop until I get that in there since it's wedged under so many other parts (I can't imagine having take that piece out without the rest of the front end already off!)

 

As I had said on some other post a while a back, you can put a piece of cardboard over the pulley, then grip it on the edges with a channel lock and lock it against that bolt that sticks out. The cardboard prevents the channel lock's teeth from biting into the pulley. Put another wrench on the bolt and tighten away using a jerking motion. Ignore the yellow arrow in pic.

 

All the tips on this thread were life-saving. Down to one last part now before the mechanical rebuild can FINALLY start - The lower radiator shroud (didn't know I needed it or I'd have been searching sooner). Seems to be a set (upper and lower) on the bay for a 2000 4.7 Durango, which I believe is the same exact match for the 2001 -- Anyone know for sure? The seller seems hesitant to sell as they seem to think it needs to be a 2000 and it won't fit a 2001 but I seem to recall someone here saying the 00 and 01 4.7L's were a match.

 

Look up the part numbers for those on the different year trucks, see if they match. If they do, all well and good. If they don't... it still might work just fine....

 

Both my 2000 and 2001 4.7L Durango's have the same upper and lower shrouds (99% sure i have mixed mine up during various repairs with "help" ) and I have not seen a difference.. Where are you located again? I have a spar lower that is just sitting around I think. PM me and I will see if I still have it.

Steve

 

Hello Dodge friends,

Happy to be back with an update.

I have started to piece together my radiator and sourced a used electric radiator fan from a junkyard (not pictued), just a lower radiator shroud away from (I hope) enough to get the car running - just 2 hoses and 5 line connections away from that then, after re-assembly, that's sort of exciting to think this thing may run again!

The new fan and fan clutch are installed, along with a refurb power steering pump and pulley (when my pulley proved impossible to remove), and a new serpentine belt.

I'm now about to assemble the new condenser and radiator. In doing so I noticed there are clips on the old radiator to place over the holes. They are old and rusty and I'm having a tough time removing them. Any tips on an easy way to pry these off? I did manage to get one (pictured) and also, realized, one attachment point was snapped off in the accident and as such I am missing a clip. I suppose I will need to buy these somewhere? There an easy way to find the part number? I could then maybe also pick up some other bolts for the cooling system at the same time in case I am short.

That said, friends, if there are any other parts or tips anyone has to offer before I get started on the reassembly please let me know -- I would hate to get to a point where I am missing something critical. I'm going to try and attach as many pieces as I can with things apart which hopefully will make the unit easier to install. I'm a bit concerned over some other missing nuts or bolts given I didn't collect everything from the accident site, but hopeful everything I kept as I took things apart will be enough.

Thanks all - Hope to have another update soon. Here are some fresh photos from tonight.

 

If by clip, you're talking about the one on the plastic can lid, those are usually available at parts stores. Being low profit and volume, you may have to hunt around, and the bolt that goes in it may be a different size.

 

Good deal.

About to start to fit the radiator back together now. Behind the lower hose is a plastic casing to cover a thermostat. This area was undamaged and untouched in the accident because it was further back. I took off the plastic joint / cap and the thermostat looks physically fine. Is this something you guys would leave alone or replace? I am just looking sort of for the sensible thing here, don't want to get it back together and find our the thermostat always goes bad in these situations, or that it is easier to leave the factory in there as it is since it did not take any damage.