Thread: Cooling

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My BBC typically runs around 190 to 200 degrees while going down the road in hot weather. Conventional belt driven fan. I know that is not a bad thing. At stop lights it starts to climb and I have not just sat there or idled it to see how far it would go. I am sure it will get over 220. Just wondering would it help to put a fan in front of the radiator to keep air flowing or would the fan obstruct more than help. I do not have a shroud so I will do that first to see the effects. I have not been caught in a traffic jam or bumper to bumper yet. What is the preferred distance of fan to radiator?

Some sort of shroud would help as would some sort of valance to flow air directly to your radiator. I have had problems like that with acouple of vehicles which I have corrected by blocking areas to flow the air directly to the radiator. Hope this gives some ideas.

A shroud will help a lot. Fan blades very close to radiator about 1/4"

I'm not a big fan of pushers (pardon the pun). Much less efficient than puller. Start with a good shroud to get more air through the rad. Also make sure ignition timing is right...too retarded makes everything too hot. Also water wetter or similar coolant additive can reduce temps but be careful about freezing.

If still having trouble you can slap a pusher in front and turn on in traffic...

Two cents,
-Chris

The truck has a design that is a funnel in the front. I will see it I can find a shroud that will work to begin with. Thanks guys!

Walker used to sell blank shrouds, not sure if they still do, to cut your own fan hole into it....

I found that at Speedway. Looks to be friendly to work with and at $75.00 reasonable. I will check my measurements and give it a try.

The main thing you want to happen is after sitting at a light is once you get going, temps do come down. Which from what you say, they do. So seeing even 220 is not that bad as long as it does lower as you move.
You do not want to put a pusher fan on the front. It will only block airflow as you start getting up to speed.
The lack of moving lots of air is only due to the belt driven fan. It can make only enough CFM as what the RPM is. If idle is 800 RPM, then CFM is the same. The only way you can help reduce temps when sitting is to take off the belt driven fan and put a puller on. That way you have an electric fan capable of pulling 2300 or more CFM at idle.
For what its worth.....leave yours alone......its fine.

So many factors affect operating temperature. Air flow, water flow, radiator size, grille shape and area, type of cooling fan, etc.

All of the comments made above are right on the money. I personally like electric fans............I know a lot of people don't, mainly for cosmetic reasons, but I love having mine come on and watching the temp drop almost immediately. I just think they are more efficient. I also agree that a puller (behind radiator) is much more efficient than a pusher (mounted in front of radiator). And a shroud is very helpful.

It is really easy to make your own custom shroud. All you need to do is make up a shallow square "pizza pan" out of something like 18-20 gauge flat sheet metal, and cut a hole in the middle the size of the fan, Here is how we made one for my Son's T bucket.

Don

I think I will try the shroud idea. I looked at the universal make your own again and they were only $50.00.

a simple switch to a larger fan solved that problem with my V6 pinto .. it would heat up idleing in traffic

Every BBC I ever saw ran hot. Didn't seem to over heat and lose coolant, just always at the top of the gauge.
My neighbor had a 396 SS Camino, in the summer he took the hood off and ran it like that. The temp dropped 20 degrees or more. The hot air wasn't getting out with the hood on.

I may need to get it up to temp and then let it idle. I would think above 240 would be too hot.

As usual, my nickel's worth may be a bit behind the cart, but here it is, anyhow.

Shroud - first thing you should try. My '59 was a terror in the heat department; would go from 180-190 running along at 40 or more, to 220-240 in just seemingly seconds, as soon as forward motion slowed or stopped. I got a universal shroud from Golden State Pickups (now, long gone) and fit it to the radiator mounts; what a difference! After that, the temp settled right at 160-180, and would stay there for hours, even at idle.

What I decided happens is: the fan, unshrouded, just "scatters" the air that comes through the radiator, and this slows the flow enough to cause temperature rise. By "ducting" the air flow with the shroud, it increases and straightens the air stream's flow and speed and makes the radiator more effective. Kind of like focusing a beam of light from a bulb.

OK I think I will do it myself! Kinda I have been associated with sheetmetal companies for the last 30 years and not asked for many favors. Time to ask for one. I need to ask you guys about spacing. The bolt on the front of my fan is 1.75" off the rad.. What should the thickness be on a shroud. Should the fan stick into the shroud a bit? If so I need to make sure the hole has clearance for engine torque. Anything else to consider?

Most fans that I`ve seen either facttory or custom has been so the the blades are centered in the opening. If your worried about torque, put a torgue strap on the left side...