Just wanted to know if anyone out there has modified their third-gen cooling system by mounting a standard fan on the Water pump pulley and also by adding a fan clutch. I just removed my 350cid and was curious to know how realistic would be to possibly relocate the radiator between the front bumper and the frame (there is a space where the bracket that the stock hood latches on to). I wasn't sure how possible this was or if anyone has ever done it. I feel that with this set-up, if possible, would be better than the rinky-dinky electric currently on there.....

Just curious

 

Relocating the radiator ahead of the radiator support
would take a lot of work and a custom built radiator.
On a carb or tbi 3rd, swapping to a belt drive fan is
easy-just get the needed parts from an'82-85 3rd
with belt drive fan,shrouds and fans are different
between camaro and firebird-18.5" fan on camaro,17"
firebird,'88 up with stock pulleys will need reverse
rotation fan. Tpi cars would of course need to rework
the intake pipe to clear.

 

Do yourself a favor and don't go backwards in technology. There's a reason everybody stopped using those belt driven fans back in the 80s and never looked back. They are inferior. They eat up mileage and power. Electric fans, even the "rinky dink" stock single fan, should be more than sufficient to cool any stock or even modified engine.

 

The belt driven fan eats up about 10HP.

 

Well I was just curious. Not that I would ever do it, but I know that I have had and currently do have cooling problems. For the past month I was running my engine without a thermostat and she was still heating up. I think the only thing that will help, Unless this rebuild will help, is replacing the radiator air dam that forces air into the radiator. That was removed before I bought the car and I have to locate one. But thanks for the info... like I said I was just curious to the idea.

 

There's your problem. 3rd-gens are "bottom breathers". Most of the air that goes through the radiator gets pushed up by the air dam.