have a cooling question

[wheeeedr1]

my monza likes to heat up when sitting in traffic to long, i have a flex fan, an stainless fan shroud, and my fan is about 1-3/4" from the radiator, it is a stock 350 with a little cam, stays cool when driving it, but like i said, likes to heat up when sitting in traffic to long (4-5 minutes). i have been reading and noticed a few people have used a electric pusher fan up front and have said this helps keep it cool, is this true? i would think it would reduce airflow and overheat faster, looking for an answer, thanks

[wheeeedr1]

sorry guys, probably forgot most important thing, i have a griffin radiator 400 hp

[BillB1210]

Do you have an accurate temperature gauge? I had the same problem with my 80 2+2 with a ZZ2 GM crate engine. Live in the same temperature zone as Coon Rapids, MN. I had my original radiator rebuilt with new cooling fins, used the original tanks. Worked OK until I was at a stop in 80+F weather, then the factory gauge went to the danger area. I would either shut down the engine or turn the A/C off.

I do have two 10" pusher fans in front of the condenser/radiator. Turning them on didn't make much difference. I have a switch on the console to activate them.

Last year, I installed a mechanical gauge and the temperature difference between this gauge and the factory gauge is about 35 degrees when the engine is hot. I simply don't trust the factory gauge, there is never a scent of overheating and it always runs under 210F even with the A/C on and the fans off.

I have now thought of removing the pusher fans as I believe they may restrict normal air flow with their mass and shielding.

Also thought of a 600 HP Griffin. Called them and decided they were hard to deal with, didn't even know what I was talking about. "Monza" what is that?

Bill

[marco_1978_spyder]

my monza likes to heat up when sitting in traffic to long, i have a flex fan, an stainless fan shroud, and my fan is about 1-3/4" from the radiator, it is a stock 350 with a little cam, stays cool when driving it, but like i said, likes to heat up when sitting in traffic to long (4-5 minutes). i have been reading and noticed a few people have used a electric pusher fan up front and have said this helps keep it cool, is this true? I would think it would reduce airflow and overheat faster, looking for an answer, thanks

Well the first thing I would do, based on the symptoms you describe, is check for airflow through the rad at Idle... Check with a 5x5 piece of cardboard. If it sticks to the rad without falling off, you have sufficient airflow.

If you have sufficient flow, I'd follow the idle mixture setup procedure for your setup again, and if that doesn't help, Getting or adding some extra timing from a vacuum advance unit at idle may help. this means connecting the vac advance hose (if your running one) to manifold vacuum.

[gmagilla]

What the others said plus , the fan should set about half in half out of the shroud to pull good air through the radiator and that radiator is big enough . Check the stat or put in a new one and check it before putting it in and drill the small hole to let air out as you fill . Your pump belts slipping or maybe your pump is pooped . Hope this helps .

[Smiley]

What pulleys are you using ?
What diameter is the flex fan and how deep are the blades ? how many blades ?

[wheeeedr1]

im using the factory temp gauge, it is a 17" diameter fan, 6 blade, using a new pump, it is in about half way, will check my mixture screws, thanks for the advice

[wheeeedr1]

not sure the diameter of the pulley, but am using a factory v8 one. will check tomorrow

[Smiley]

The crank pulley should be 1" to 2" larger than the water pump pulley.
Some flex fans are only 1" deep, you want the blades to be 2" to 2 1/2" deep.
Is your vacuum advance hooked to manifold vacuum ?

[wheeeedr1]

my vacuum advance is hooked up and working, will check the pulleys tonight, thanks

[gt350fme]

Just some rambling thoughts.

The Better the seal between the front cowl to radiator, and shroud to radiator, the better, any air sneaking around the radiator core, Bad.

Also, fan to shroud clearance is important, should not be more than an inch or it will have less pull, distance to core not important with good seal.

In stationary equipment, like a fork lift, ect, this is critically important.

Check for debris on the radiator core such as bugs ect that reduce flow.

Vacume leak?

What's your Vacume at idle!

Use Vacume gauge to set idle mixture.

Good luck

GT

[monzaaddict]

get rid of the flex fan and stainless shroud and use a stock monza fan and shroud.

[monzaaddict]

get rid of the flex fan and stainless shroud and use a stock monza fan and shroud.

verify these are actually the plastic shrouds and not the fan guards if you decide to buy.
http://car-part.com search using buick skyhawk 1975-1980 radiator fan shroud

[Smiley]

"flex-fan" is a generic term that is used to describe a wide range of fans.
If you fan looks like this with 1" deep blades bent at a 45 degree angle replace it. DO NOT use a plastic fan.


If you can not find a Monza V8 fan try a Flex-a-lite 1817 seven blade fan if you have room, it is 2.5" deep



or the 1317 six blade at 2.25" deep

[firebird77clone]

I second the recommendation to get a stock fan.

Another route, get an oil cooler.