Hi All,

I am loving this summer weather, which means I'm driving my Cutlass more. However, it gets pretty warm pretty quickly, especially on 80+ degree days like today. I'm curious as to what kind of fan the stock fan is, what I can do to upgrade it or if I would be better off doing an electric fan/Ford Windstar set up rather than worrying about belt driven stuff. Tell me about your set up if you like! As always, I appreciate any thoughts and help.

Thanks,
Bobby

 

Lets define "pretty warm"... What temp is it reaching?

 

These cars didn't overheat with the stock fan when new.

A stock style mechanical fan and clutch will move more air than any electric fan.

 

As requested, please define "pretty warm"... What degree thermostat are you using??? Are all the cooling components that are currently being used stock to the vehicle???

 

It's a stock set up as far as cooling goes. if I'm crawling through traffic it'll go to 250 fairly quickly. Normal cruising is somewhere between 180 and 190, if I beat on it it's around 220-230. On a hot day like today, it was around 200-210. Ford Windstar electric fans move something crazy like 4000 cfm, so I find it hard to believe a mechanical fan can top that, but that's why I'm asking, because I just don't know. Not trying to start a fight. I'm running a higher compression than stock, depending on what online calculator you use it's somewhere between 10.6:1 and 11.0:1, which is why I think it struggles to stay at 180 or 190. I'm pretty sure it's a 180 degree thermostat btw, I bought it a couple years ago now and I can't quite remember.

 

Your not starting an argument, this issue comes up often. While the Windstar fans are a viable option and have been used in the past with great success. However, there are many reasons why these engines will creep up in temp. Since your temp recovers quickly I'd first look at radiator condition, fan clutch, timing, and make sure the carb is not running lean before going that route.

Here is a good read on a Windstar fan install.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...n-install.html

 

That sounds like the classic symptoms of too little air flow across the radiator at low speeds. Make sure the fan shroud is in place, the fan clutch is functional, the fan is at the right distance into the shroud, the air dam is in place, and the radiator side seals are in place.

As said, the factory cooling system worked fine on high compression engines when these cars were new, even in places that actually got "hot" and not just barely "warm" like your 80º temps.

 

Fun71 How far into the shroud should the fan be?

 

The fan should be 1/2 way in the shroud.

 

[QUOTE=Bobby455;1015896].......I'm running a higher compression than stock........ somewhere between 10.6:1 and 11.0:1.......[QUOTE]

Are you running iron heads? Pump gas? If you have adjusted your timing to eliminate "pinging", you may have it retarded to the point of exposing more of your cylinder walls to the heat of combustion, which could also cause it to heat up.

 

So I was doing the calculation wrong, the actual number is more like 10.4, which isn't far off the 10.25 of the original 350 with a 4bbl carb. Yes iron 6 heads and 93 octane pump gas

 

There is even more to the issue than this.

If you are running ported vacuum for the vacuum advance, you are NOT getting any advance at idle and slow speeds. If you still have the factory Transmission Controlled Spark system operational, it's even worse. If you have an aftermarket or non-original carb, it might be jetted too lean at idle, which can also cause overheating. Even if the car is totally stock, keep in mind that ethanol-laced gas causes a leaner mixture than the car was calibrated for, and this will also cause overheating.

 

Get a high flow 160 t-stat, the biggest radiator you can find and a slim 16" 3000 cfm electric fan[ ebay 50.00] with adjustable relay with temp probe [ rock auto] 26.00 mount it as a pusher in front of the radiator, use with your stock mechanical fan and enjoy. Be sure to you manifold vac for sure.

 

I'll have to give that a try. I'll talk with my mechanic and see what he says. Thank you all for all your help and input!

 

Honestly most aftermarket fans are overrated junk. Is it the factory 2 or 3 core rad? You can fit a big 2 core aluminum rad with two 1" cores. I would only buy either good used Windstar or other factory high output fans or the dual US made Derale fans, supposedly move a lot of air. The Derale controllers are cheap junk though. I am using dual Dodge Stratus fans with a recored factory 2 row rad. I only have 9 to 1 compression and no A/C, hope it will stay under 200.