Still over heating

[57 Ford Kustom]

Guys, I still have a over heat issue with my 351w. I have installed a high flow water pump, a 2" aluminum radiator, and it still over heats. It is fine while driving, but will over heat at idle. I am thinking of buying a spacer to push the fan within 1" of the radiator, right now it is 3.5" back. I also might try a 7 blade fan instead of the 6 blade. Any suggestions?  Tim

[57AGIN]

57 Ford Custom:

While they do not look stock, a fan shroud really makes quite a difference.  Another option would be to install an electric fan inside the engine compartment on the back of the radiator.  Since you have a 351W the "stock" look is already compromised.  These type of solutions really enhance the cooling capacity of your radiator.

Bob
57 AGIN

[rmk57]

My big block has about 1 inch or less clearance and it never gets above 185. It has a 26x19 universal rad f series 19 inch fan and no shroud. Easiest thing would be to get the spacer and try that out first.

Randy

[57 Ford Kustom]

Thanks for your input! Bob, I realize that yours isn't a "standard" 351w, what are you doing to cool your 57'? I am getting a spacer from summit.   Thanks, Tim

[sprink88]

How is your timing. That can also affect your temp?

[hiball3985]

What kind of a fan are you using? I went through this when we built a later model 302 for his 66 Mustang. He went through 3 so called "High Performance" fans and had heating problems at idle in traffic. They may be great for more ponies but are crap for cooling. I finally convinced him to put the stock fan back on and it's never heated up since.

And like Sprink said, timing can do it too.

[BWhitmore]

Several years ago I had a 32 Roadster with a 354 Hemi that overheated when idling.  I was able to cure the problem with an electric fan with a shroud and using "Wetter Water" (I think that was the name of the product).  The fan dropped the temp 20 degrees and the wetter water another 15 degrees.  I wired the fan with a temp sensor and a toggle switch in order to have the ability to turn off the fan at will. 

[57 Ford Kustom]

Timing is spot on. The fan is some generic plastic crap that I found in my Dad's garage while cleaning it out. May this is why my Dad had it thrown in the corner! Lol! I think I will visit a few junk yards this week end. I would like to find a 7 blade. Thanks agian for all the feed back, you guys are a lot of help! Tim

[lowrider]

As mentioned before, a fan shroud will do more to cool it down than anything.

[57 Ford Kustom]

Low rider, when I visit the junk yard on Saturday I plan on securing one of those also! Thanks for the comments!  Tim

[Zapato]

7 blade fans are common on chrysler products and jeep cherokees, little or no mods needed.

zap-

[57 Ford Kustom]

Thanks for the info Zap, I know where to steer toward now! I was going to look for early 70's fords, if i could find any. Thanks,  Tim

[Frankenstein57]

I put a shroud on my 292 with AC, last summer was hot as hell, never went over 180.  Mark

[sprink88]

what shroud did you find works Fankenstein?

[FORDNUT]

I'm going to catch some flack on this because I have in the past. I have cured heating problems in the past on small blocks in my cars by going back to a stock water pump. Everything being equal, my guess was that the water was going through the radiator faster than it could cool. I have a friend who did the same with a 427 FE motor with the same results. I would like to think FORD engineering knew what they were doing. I do not know when we started chunking high flows on everything we built, but just maybe it ain't right. Go ahead and shoot.