Radiator/Fan clearance issues

[HeloCrewChief]

I purchased a custom made radiator off ebay for my 55 project with a Buick Nailhead. It has to have custom hose connections as the Nailhead uses opposite inlets of a typical SBC. It seems that there is no way for me to get the bottom hole to line up with the brackets they supplied and my radiator. I have the radiator as close to the core support as possible without making contact. Also, I only have a hair over 2" of clearance between center of the water pump pulley and radiator. Any idea of an ultra slim electric fand capable of cooling this thing? Thank you in advance.

[Advanced Design]

Here is a 2 inch fan. Can you use two thin and smaller diameter fans, one above and one below the water pump?
http://www.jegs.com/i/SPAL/063/30100...FQx9fgodLe4NqQ

[Softpatch]

why not a pusher fan mounted in front of Rad.?
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[joedoh]

nailhead c4, what a great combo!


I used a spal slim 16" fan on my 47, and a flex-a-lite FLX-33054 variable speed controller from summit. it is adjustable temp and doesnt just turn on/off, it starts out slow and if it needs more speed it speeds up. very neat.

one thing to remember is the 2" space is the min space you have just in front of the pulley. my e-fan was thickest at the center too and wouldnt mount dead center, so I just offset it to the hot side (crossflow) and the center chunk of the fan didnt interfere with the center of the water pump pulley on mine.

[Daze57]

hey chief !!!

look up ''sidewinder fans '' the way these are made --the motor is way offset to the side so you can configure it to your needs .. i have less than 2 inches with my engine set up --- i have one of these mounted and it works out v well --also these fan as a puller haul in a great amount of air . the whole fan can be turned 360 degrees and placed where you need it .........hope this helps ---look it up --it may be what you can use --- its not real cheap but it is worth a look at sir !.....this is the one i use

[HeloCrewChief]

Thank you for all the quick replys. I've kind of ruled out a pusher fan as the factory cross bracing would interfere with that. I'm hesitant to remove that cross bracing as I'm sure the factory put it there to prevent flex issues. I can't offset the fan that came with my radiator as it takes up the entire mounting surface of the radiator. The best solution posted seems to be the sidewinder fan as that one flows 2-3 times more than the other slim fans. I think I read that sidewinder fan flows 2500 CFM.

[Daze57]

chief

as i mentioned -- the word i was lookin for was ''clocked'' so you can rotate it to the best position.

[dwcsr]

Why not a steel fan? It would fit the old school look. have someone stripe it nicely

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Why not a steel fan? It would fit the old school look. have someone stripe it nicely

I like this idea!

[HeloCrewChief]

Do you think a stock mechanical fan will flow enough air and fit in the tight space? Also, the guy that built my radiator said the reason the brackets are slanted like they are is because, the 55-59 core supports had a slight curve to them and are not straight like mine. Does that make sense or do I have the right core support and radiator guy is wrong.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by HeloCrewChief

Do you think a stock mechanical fan will flow enough air and fit in the tight space? Also, the guy that built my radiator said the reason the brackets are slanted like they are is because, the 55-59 core supports had a slight curve to them and are not straight like mine. Does that make sense or do I have the right core support and radiator guy is wrong.

it should fit nicely. Bolt it right to the top pulley. I think it would flow enough as long as its not a flex fan and you don't have 500 hp. You should make up a nice shroud for it. My thinking is anyone looking at it will only see it stopped so why not dress it up.

Yes they were tiled slightly but is was the radiator bracket that was angled on the radiator not the support.

[OrrieG]

Radiator core is perpendicular to the frame. Radiator and brackets are tilted 4 degrees to match engine tilt and locate fan parallel with the radiator.

[Flysocal]

I'm having clearance issues also on my 54. Everything will fit but it's tight. I wish I recesssed my firewall but to go back and redo would be a ton of work. I think that's the answer. Get the engine back as far as you can with a 4" recess and your good to go. But looking at your pictures that's not gonna happen! That's hot rodding!