hofficer

Ok I just did a big block swap and I want to know what you big block guys are running for radiator and fan or fans. My car is a 84 so I don't have electric fans already. Can I use a flex fan and stay cool enough for street driving?
Thanks in advance

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Probably not; doesn't ever work for any other setup, won't work for this one.

I'd suggest a NEW stock radiator, with a NEW thermostatic (NOT "centrifugal" aka "cheeeep") fan clutch, and a GOOD COMPLETE shroud that fits well to the fan. That's going to be the hardest thing as the BB WP, and therefore the fan, is in a different spot (about an inch higher) than a SB one, so no stock shroud will work. You'll have to get a bit creative on that part. I doubt ANY fan, radiator, or anything else, will work well enough to get the job done without such a shroud.

Or of course, switch to electric, such as a 3,8 Taurus or a Xler minivan one.

hofficer

What if I put a 16" electric fan on the inside of the shroud?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Depends to a large extent on the particular 16" fan.

hofficer

It's a fan from advanced auto. I have one on my s10 with a big block and it keeps cool, but it's got allot more air flow from the core support beings open compared to the camaro.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm.... couldn't say about a fan from there.

I DO know however that the 2 I mentioned are widely used by people with difficult to cool situations. Plus they're eeeeezy to pick up for cheeeeeeep, brand new even.

https://www.google.com/#q=four+seasons+35317 for example. Even comes with its own shroud. Soooooper eeeeeeeeezzzzzy to install. Give it a fan switch and a relay, and you're good to go. Piece o cake.

These cars have plenty of flow to the radiator, they just don't "look" like it, because it's not pointed straight forward. As much as any car, I would say in fact.

Another important thing is to make sure that all of the plastic pieces beside the rad, and the air dam across the core support below it, and the plastic "tray thing around the hood latch, are intact. Those parts direct all the incoming air through the radiator instead of around it, and assure that the volume BEHIND the rad is at LOW pressure, thus aiding the incoming air under HIGH pressure from in front or through the fan.

hofficer

All my plastic is there and not damaged.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Well you're in better shape than lots of folks then... prolly about half of the "mystery overheating" complaints on this forum are due to that, and the other half about evenly split between a bad rad cap and not knowing how it's supposed to work in the first place.

Ron U.S.M.C.

Don't forget the 180* Thermostat and fan switch that comes on around that temperature.
With out it even the largest fan wont help you get down to the 190*/200* mark using the stock thermostat and fan "on" settings.
That is if your looking to run those lower temps.