I got a good deal ($15)on a used fan clutch from the Carlisle show and it has dramatically helped my cooling. My engine now runs around 170 instead of 220+ like it used to. How much more would a fan shroud help? Anything significant? Would putting the thermostat back in help too? Thanks.

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1970 Chevy El Camino
Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Factory Dual Exhaust
Non-SS with Factory Rallies!
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear
My El Camino Home Page - www.dreamelectric.com (http://www.dreamelectric.com)

I don't know about helping, but for safety factors, they work. A kid in our auto shop class is missing a finger...he knows all too well now that those fan shrouds help when working on an engine while it's running. Caught his sleeve & his finger went straight through the blade. Lucky it was a clean cut. The thermostats help http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

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Jay In-the-works 67 Malibu (http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/socalrat)

You definetly need the THERMASTAT the way it was described to me with out a thermastat the water does not stay in the radiator long enough for the fan to cool it . The fan shroud makes a huge difference I would not run a car without one . Are you sure the car is running at 170 MIKE

You have to at least run a restrictor if you don't run a thermostat. Besides regulating the temperature, a thermostat keeps pressure in the block to help reduce hot spots, etc. Nothing bad about running a thermostat. Also allows the engine to heat up quicker increasing engine life.

I'm pretty sure it was running 170, maybe 175 but it was around there. It only got up to around 185 when it was off. My friend took the thermostat out during the summer saying that it would help, but I found out that everything he said about the car was wrong so that's going back in.

Gotta have a shroud. My 70 454 would overheat sitting in traffic and cool off again once I was moving on the highway. Once I put the shroud back in, it runs at a steady 185 all day long. It reallyhelps dircet the airflow through the radiator. Oh yeah, stick that thermostat back in.

JR

Shwan, yeah but you broke the rules and it worked. Only problem is your motor is barely hot enough at 170 to run right. If its a cast iron mill, you might just leave well enough alone. A restrictor and new gasket would be ok. Can see your sig from here, but if you;reanywhere where it gets chilly, you need one in. If not, let it ride.

Is 170 really that low? What's the norm? 220 seemed high I think. It's gotta be from that thermostat being out. I'll be putting a 180 one in next chance I get.

Shawn, If you don't run a thermostat, the coolant won't circulate to the rear of the engine and there will be hot spots back there that are really HOT! Put the stat in (180 degree), the shroud and all will be fine.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten.

MarylandChevelleClub (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)

Hey Shawn,
Previous advice is good.........not much wriiten here about running your engine too cool. It's a problem because the oil doesn't get hot enough to burn off the condensation that collects in the crankcase after shut down. The result is that your oil gets dirty real fast and sludge build up even with good oils. Put a stat in it for the reasons explained before and to insure it warms up properly. The shroud improves fan efficency and also provides a margin of safety for you while working under the hood. I wrote an article a while back on small block cooling systems for one of the Corvette magazine. You're welcome to a copy if you like. Just e-mail me a fax or snail mail address. regards......mgg

[This message has been edited by Manny Gomez (edited 05-29-2000).]

180° to 190° is normal temp for an engine to run on the street. On newer cars 210?8 to 220° is normal.