[JoePapa]

Yes - I mean the car

I can't seem to be lucky enough to get rid of the engine driven fan. Here's what I've got:

'69 Firebird 400
Heads have been milled but don't recall amounts
Block decked to zero (not sure if that matters here)

Radiator is Ron Davis 2 1" row. The overall dimensions is the same as the factory 4-row radiator that I had in there.

I've replaced the water pump with the Milodon High flow unit (cast impeller) and clearanced it to the backing plate.

With the engine driven fan, it heats up at idle - takes a while but gets to 210 without fail. The temp drops once I get moving.

I've swapped out thermostats - just prolongs the inevitable.
I've ran straight water and water with water wetter - no dice
Current mix is water, water wetter, and just a little anti-freeze.

The shroud is in place, close, not 100% sealed but pretty close to it. The fan is 1/2 in/out.

This engine showed signs of over heating previously as the engine builder mentioned this to me during the rebuild. Could this just be a bad block?

This week I'll be installing an engine oil temp sender.

Next attempt would probably be to move the oil filter - it's right above the headers and I'm wondering if the headers are heating up the oil which then causes the motor to get hotter then normal. I'm looking for a remote oil filter kit with a built in thermostat; if you have a good supplier, please let me know.

I've tried electric fans - both the Ron Davis shrouded models and the flex a lite ones that are rated at 2950 cfm - 16" puller and 12" pusher. These electric fans cannot cool the motor and in all honesty, the engine driven fan has a hard time.

I'd really like to go back to the electric fans and put that horsepower to the tires. This is my goal.

What have I missed?


Thanks in advance!