I run a stroked big block with an aluminum cross-flow radiator, 160 thermostat, plastic flex fan, mechanical high volume water pump, and aluminum shroud.

Because of the motor plate I only have 2.75" of space between the radiator and the water pump pulley so I'm not able to fit an HHR electric fan, and a clutch fan probably won't fit.

This combo has honestly been awesome in the Fall and Spring but today was the true test, 87 degree's here in Akron Ohio with humidity and heavy traffic. This combo survives at speed but the gauge quickly moves up at stop lights. It's never gone over 178 degrees but today it was 220 by the time I got it home, as it climbs a little higher at each stop light.

Should I remove the thermostat and let it flow freely? Is there a better setup that will fit? I normally hack up the core support on A-body cars so the radiator can be moved towards the front of the car more but this car is way too nice to cut-up if I don't have to.

The problem is, your fan isn't pulling air though ALL of the radiator fin area. You need to buy or make a SEALED shroud that covers all of the fin area.
I'm all for cutting in the name of improvement. Chopping and cutting is part of hot rodding!

I kinda figured the shroud needs some improvement.

What about my pulleys, the crank pulley and water pump pulley are both about 6 inch diameter, does that make for a good or bad water pump speed? I believe the March pulley kits are about the same size as my pulley's.

Ditch the flex fan. It's garbage. Then report back

Your shroud is doing very little. The uncovered areas need to be covered.
That's shroud 101

And put what in it's place? That was my question.

I would fix one thing at a time. The lack of an effective shroud is a major contributor to your cooling issue.

As pointed out by Pacnorthcuda, replace the flex fan with a solid mechanical fan. Flex fans went out of style 20 years ago!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^This. You might as well make a shroud that covers it all because if you buy one of those kits, you'll be making it anyway. Also, make sure the radiator is full to the top to get water in all of the tubes. Let the puke tank take care of the excess/overflow.

You can make a shroud out of aluminum sheet metal, or you can make one out of fiberglass. To make it out of sheet metal, simply get yourself some poster paper (thin cardboard) from Walmart or a craft store, and build a template around that round "shroud" you already have. Once its done, take it out, and transfer it on a sheet of thin aluminum (18 or 20 gage), cut it out, and bend the sides either by hand, or by sandwiching the metal between a couple pieces of square tubing in a vise, and bending over by hand. It can by done on a Saturday, and that's going slow.

Something like this
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sum-381101/overview/

or custom
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sum-380373-sh/overview/

On the pulleys, I've had good luck by slightly over-driving the HV pump (around 7%). You are close with 1:1. A little overdrive may help but I think your main problem is air flow.

In terms of spacing it appears the radiator has spacers to move it back? Some room would help.

If no more room can be made, a full shroud and steel mechanical fan would help. Mancini offers an aluminum shroud made to spec.

Wing cars ran a fixed mechanical fan. I'd pick a fixed steel fan that fits and is rated for the RPM. [i][/i]. A clutch acts as a speed governor. Without the clutch, need to make sure the fan can take the RPM of the engine + pulley ratio.

If you can fit a clutch, that would be better (and quieter). The Bouchillon clutch is pretty short and 6 blade fan seems capable.

Thanks guys, I actually found the rest of the shroud that came in the kit downstairs, I'll check it out tomorrow to see if it fits everything and add it to my round shroud. I should've done that in the first place.

I'm not a fan of the flex fans either but it is all that would fit in my application. Do you guys know of any steel fixed fans or clutch fans that will work in a 2.75" space? I'll try to google the Bouchillon clutch that you mentioned.

My radiator is up against the core support, no room to move it without hacking the car up.

Your TANKS are against the core support but how thick is the core? I saw about a 15* drop across the board switching from 2x1" cores to 2x1.5" cores. I also use a Derale twin fan setup with shroud. This combo would could keep my old BB A-body at 195* on the street on 100* days in all situations. Also could run flatout on a road course for 20 minutes and just see 220* by the end of that.

Nice setup 72Swinger, my cores are only 1". I see you had to cut your core support, I think I'm gonna have to do the same if I want to get a clutch fan in there.

Looks like the Bouchillon clutch is pretty long at 3 5/16".

http://bouchillonperformance.com/inc/sdetail/865/898


The FC28 seems to be the shortest one but has become very hard to find and expensive.

Jaguar 2765 seems to die often since it's built for plastic fans on a Jaguar.

The Hayden 2705 is 3.11" and works well with a steel fan from what I've read, this might be the way to go if I cut out my core support and move the radiator, and install a better shroud.

That is a crappy fan for pulling air. If you are gonna use a fan, get one like this with a shroud like this.

i would change the shroud also i had one custom made for my rad i have a 150.00 howe rad and the same fan u have but smaller my 600 + cuin hemi only saw 220 degrees in traffic at woodward !! i have a pusher fan i turn on in traffic only !!

Look at an electric fan setup off of a mid 90s intrepid. It's a dual fan setup and they are pretty cheap. I run one with a small block and an electric water pump, I had the clearance it a little but it works great. You have more room than I do.

Pic

This setup works good for me. I got this Dakota shroud at a junkyard and modified to fit ok. Its not perfect but it works nice for me as I used the type of plastic holding clips like the ones that come with trans cooler kits to hold the shroud to my Afco crossflow rad in my 63. I also have an electric fan in front thats a pusher for back-up. This setup works good but if sitting in traffic for a while on 95 plus humid days it can creep up to 200 or 205 and then I can turn the electric fan on which is on a toggle switch and bring it back down to 185 while sitting in traffic for as long as I am stuck there. Ron