Thought I would start another post about cooling a 500+ BB in an A body. Still not sure which way I'm going with the radiator,but as this point I could go A or B body down flow.
I would like to cool this with a 440 source mechanical 40gal water pump and a flexi-lite 6 blade fan with a full rad. shroud.
Can this be done or do you think it would be easier to cool with electric fans?
Heres the fan.

Mechanical fan on a clutch or electric. Never a direct drive fan.

Mechanical can move a lot more air, but the advantage of electric is you can cool the radiator while the engine is off. If you are over heated, kill the motor, let the fan run a minute, then fire it back up to circulate water, and repeat till you're cool.

I like electric because it's only on when you need it. Not turning the clutch/fan when you don't need it. I kept a 500 hp big block cool with a properly sized fan and clean, well maintained radiator

A clutch hub is not gonna fit in there. it was very cramped with my electric fan and water pump when I had the small block in it.

I ran into that problem too with my 451 A-body. Even with the shortest clutch available (Hayden 2947) there would have been less than 1/2" clearance to my radiator core...

If you don't run a fan clutch, a direct drive has two problems - lots of wasted hp at higher RPMs, and possibly more importantly, high fan RPM that could result in a catastrophic explosion.

I installed a Contour dual electric fan. Remains to be seen if it's enough to keep it cool in a hot Missouri summer.

I understand. The theory is the blades are said to straighten out at high rpm minimizing hp losses. This fan does move a ton of air at idle or low speeds. I may just have to use electric fans. still trying to figure what works best all around. Maybe someone has done this with good results.

El decapitate..........those things are dangerous and I run the HHR chevy fan w/a Moroso w/p. and they work well together and the new pump cools a bit better. Street car, desert heat.............

Dom, what size is that pump? I was looking at the summit pumps earlier and i think they are 35gal pumps. Would that be enough flow.

never say never.

Yep. I ditched the clutch in favor of direct. Best way to move air if that's your goal.

Those flex fans are notorious for losing blades and hurting people. Get a good electric fan setup. I use the fan and shroud setup off a 2003 dodge Viper.

What you propose would be the way I would go, ( Simplest, least costly, best cooling capability, no additional amp draw issues to contend with ) especially for the street. I would lean more to electric for race only application.

A flex fan costed me 15 rwhp on a chassis dyno. And that was on a 370 rwhp car.

I like the electric fans and pump, for street or strip in my big block A-Body. On the street, if you would run into a problem with the car running hot because of traffic on a hot day. You can just stop and let it cool down. Same when you at the track between runs. But that's your own choice.

Then fan you posted is the fan I use.

I can tell you that a quality mechanical pump and fan with the correct pullies (I overdrive my WP 6% and would have done 10 I'd I could have found pullies).

I have a hard time getting heat in the engine without a Tstat.

The WP, speed you turn it and the area of the radiator is what counts. Most guys don't run enough pump or pump speed. Flow is what cools. The fan pulls air at idle and low speeds.

I dont know which one you had, but i read a shootout on mechanical fans about 15yrs ago and my fan cost 7hp in that study. With 700 hp im not too disappointed in that.

Cool and good to hear that. This fan moves a sh!t ton of air at low speed. If i do decide on electric fans i will do the fans and shroud radiator combo. Easy, just drop in and done.

If you are over heated, kill the motor, let the fan run a minute, then fire it back up to circulate water, and repeat till you're cool.


Even if your not overheated, leaving the ele. water pump and fans goes a long long way in the life of cast iron heat cycles.

Ive tried a mech fan in the past just to try to keep a oem look, things can get ugly at 6k plus shifts, plus if its a normal v belt ive always tossed them and then as well ive burnt up so many alt. bearings.

I have a serpentine pulley system. I had the electric pump and fan on last sb combo. They do have benefitts for sure. I already have the mech. Pump and fan. Just need the radiator at this point. Its good to get other ideas or opinions. Thanks

I have a serpentine pulley system.

I was thinking that was the case, im too cheap to pop for the serpentine setup.

BTW Dave im getting ready to go at my good 360 block again, the one Im so fond of that I mentioned to you.

Cool. Whats the plans for the block?