Fan or water pump?

did you get the head gaskets on correctly when you installed the heads?

gbarber said:

dennis - I have a 180* thermostat. So you can't run an electric fan with a 4-row radiator?

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An electric fan is probably not good in your situation.

The different forums that I follow pretty much sum it up that the 4-row is too dense to use an electric fan, where as they work excellant with aluminum radiators. The most common aluminum radiators seem to be limited to a max of 2 rows, with each row being 1" or more in width--this allows more direct exposure of the coolant to air movement, less dense finning required.

A flex fan would probably be a better option to try.

As far as the thermostat, I was just curious (and mostly wanted to see if you were running one.)

Was your engine been bored over .30?

Can you post a picture of your fan/radiator please?

fan's air flow.

gbarber said:

Almost all of the airflow is felt coming from the edges of the fan. There is plenty of air flow if you place your hand just above and behind the fan and edge of the shroud. Is this normal? The fan pushes all of the air out, not back. It seems like I feel equal air flow across the entire front surface of the radiator(I hope I described that alright)

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Yep, that's correct. This is also why they tell you to make sure your fan blades are at least half way exposed from the shroud.

If you can borrow a good standard fan with spacer, you may find it works better. I am begining to wonder if the diameter of the fan clutch as well as it's close proximity to the radiator is blocking the center of your core from getting air through it.
If you cut a 4" square piece of heavy cardboard, then hold it on different parts of the radiator, see if it "sticks" as well right in the middle as it does towards the edges. If it does not, you have lost that whole area of cooling while at idle. Once you're driving the pressure will force it's way through the center.

Also I like notny41's idea of pictures, if you can.

HTH,

Scott

That clutch is huge!!!

I think you are right. That clutch looks to me to be blocking a rather large area of the core. The other thing, is that your fan shroud (which you've done a pretty nice job on btw), is also blocking fins. By the looks I'd guess your blocking close to 40% of the total area at idle, betweeen the two. You really want to maximize every square inch of fin and tube area, at least until you get the over heat under control.
I'd start by pulling off that fan clutch and using a stock (for testing purposes) or the biggest flex fan that will fit. Then work over your shround to open up every square inch of the core.

I think there is a somewhat stock looking shroud available through the aftermarket A/C companies, fairly cheap. I'd look closely to see if they seal the radiator without blocking the core, If so you may want to invest in one, or work at modifying your's to do the same. Looks like you've got the skills to make this work.
Good luck!

Scott

First off; Congratulations on solving a difficult problem

Then yeah, I've got to think that unless you left the wrench on one of the bolts You've probably got an out of balance fan.

If you've got a piece of pipe that fits snugly (or use tape to build up the diameter) you could stick through the fan, place the pipe on the backs of two kitchen chairs, or something similar, you can balance it yourself. You've got the welding skills to add a washer or whatever else it might need.

Something cheap to try. I'd really opt for a nice Flexi-lite fan. They are so quiet and work really well.

Scott

For your setup, in my opinion yes.

But this is just my own opinion. You may want to post this as a seperate question.

My '66 still has the I6 in it. I just added A/C with a two core stock 6 cylinder radiator. The Flex-a-lite (thanks for the spell check ) made a about 5 degree difference in cooling at idle, versus the fan they give you in the kit. And it is so much quieter, I can hear the points open and close...no kidding!!! My neighbor comes over and says, "...Man, is that your points I hear?" I hadn't even noticed. I was too busy watching all the pressure and temp gauges I had hooked up at the time.

I have run Flex-a-lite fans on other V8 cars, but never for extra cooling (although they never ran any hotter). It was always the performance I was after.

I have a 347 with iron heads.....and a alum radiator, no shroud, and a flex fan...plus a oil-to-water heat exchanger. I can run it on the track in 90* weather and cant GET it over 210* On the street, the t-stat wont even open (180). So, the solution is out there.....