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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
J
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J Offline
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
Ok Guys:
I've checked all the postings. Couldn't find the answer. I seem to recall a thread, a couple of years ago, on the correct distance from the fan surface to the face of the radiator for optimum cooling. One of the members was a cooling/thermodynamics engineerand knew the answer. Does anyone know the answeror remember the thread? I am going to install an electric pusher for added insurance but would like to run the engine driven fan. What I've learned the hard way and through this web site is:
1. On a 261 into a 52 3/4 ton with a stock radiator the fan sits about 3 inches lower than the center of the radiator and won't fit between the WP pulley and the radiator.
2. Any engine driven fan will run more efficiently with a shroud.
3. Moving the radiator "L" brackets is the easiest way to reposition your radiator.
4. You've all heard of Murphy's Law, well BUBBA's law simply states Murphy was an optimist.
Later Brothers and Sisters
JimBo


Bubba
Joined: Mar 2006
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B
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B Offline
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 483
Bub: For what it's worth my 53 chevy pickup's 216 fan sets about 3/8 in. away from the radiator.

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 157
F
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 157
Mine is just under 1" on my 51 and it all looks to be stock setup.

Joined: May 2005
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B
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Joined: May 2005
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You should check with the experts about running a "pusher" fan with "puller" type. I was told by a radiator build shop this is not a good idea due to a vortex that is set up by running the fans in this configuration


Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,258
"Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!!
"Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,258
Vortex?? Do you mean hundreds of tiny ones through the fins? You'd think the radiator itself would put an end to that!

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
have not measured mine but it is about as close as you can get it..........no shroud,, not electric fan and it never has ran hot, it has been driven in some real hot tx weather,, running a 58/235 in it..


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Joined: Feb 2005
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Have you thought about useing one of the water pump adaptors that lets you run the old style 216 pump. If you use the adapter and old style pump it should put your fan in the right distance from the rad. I have a 62/235 in a old wench truck that gets worked pretty hard, never had any problems.

Joined: Dec 2005
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3/4 to 1" unless you can use a shroud. some elect pusher fans from junk yards work fine in front of radiator, easyer to align with center of rad.


"It ain't a truck if you can't hose out the cab."
Joined: Jun 2005
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I"m not sure about the 'vortex' idea-

I've owned several cars that came from the factory with fan on the water pump and an auxiliary electric fan in front of the radiator to keep the engine cool when the a/c is on. If the factory can do it I don't think there would be a vortex problem.


'51 Chevy 1/2 ton w/'62 261, HEI, offy, fentons, dual carter/webbers, t-5 & 12 bolt posi
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 58
J
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Posts: 58
Gents:
Some years ago I had a 72 Chevy 1/2 ton that we dropped a 468 big block into. The truck normally ran on the warm side, but in summer bumper to bumper traffic would overheat. We solved the problem by adding an electric pusher fan. The change was dramatic, when the fan kicked in you could watch the temperature gauge drop. Wired the fan so it would ron for a full minute after shutdown to help cool the engine down more quickly.
Never had a problem with any air turbulance [vortices] etc.


Bubba

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