Cooling Options

[astronot]

My '74 6 cyl. is missing the radiator shroud. I see a stock shroud and an electric cooling fan cost about the same at JBG. Does anyone have any advice/experience as to which would be better? With the electric fan I would keep the stock fan mounted to the water pump I think.

 

[Rons beast]

Not good to use an electric fan and the motor driven fan. I would use a shroud with either. The shroud helps direct the air, for maxium effeciency. If the price is the same as an electric fan...go with the shroud.

 

[Bully Bob]

Hi astronot...!

WOW...!!

Suprised me...!! Honestly thought the I-6 never had a fan shroud. Mine doesn't & I've never seen one that did...? Learn something every day.!

However., it has to be a hot day & a long steep up hill for mine to get a couple deg. above normal. (The 6's run really cool..!) Only time it got a bit warm was when the T-stat stuck..!!

I see it's pricy....wonder if it's an aft. mkt. design..?

Just looked in factory manual....pics show no shroud., discuss no shroud, but they do for the V/8.

I would assume, if you're getting some overheating, it's not due to "no fan shroud".

Should you get one., post a follow-up if you would....

 

[astronot]

Well, it's regularly above 105 here for like 75 days now. Record heat. And the only time I really have a problem with it is at slow speed when I'm not getting a lot of airflow thru the radiator. Like 4WLo. And it doesn't really over heat, it just gets hotter than normal. When I saw the shroud in the catalog, I just assumed it was a stock item from the get-go.

I'll make sure all is OK with the engine and cooling, but will probably go with the shroud anyway. An electric fan is just one more thing to go wrong. And it seems like all vehicles have them now.

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[Bully Bob]

"Well, it's regularly above 105 here for like 75 days now. Record heat."

Don't know where you are.., but, that's normal temps here in Vegas...although this has been the coolest summer on record...even with a few 110's

"Like 4WLo. And it doesn't really over heat, it just gets hotter than normal."

Actually., this is normal...assuming it drops back down when speed picks back up.

Stock rad. is 2 core.... I went to "new" 3 core (yr. ago) when the rad. shop in town failed 3 times at soldering the top tank in W/O leaking. Not sure 3 core is needed but.., did it 'cause it was now available.

Also.....The less coolant added = better/cooler runn'n eng. i.e don't put more than your area req.

P.S. These engines were used in Mustangs, Falcons, Mavricks, T-birds, etc. They may have had the same radiator, with a shroud in these applications.

 

[astronot]

Well, you've got me beat there. I live in Llano, TX. It's not that this is an unusually high temp. as much as it's for so many days. that's the record. Plus only 5 inches of rain all year. But guess in LV that's not unusual either!

When you say coolant are you referring to the anti freeze/water ratio?

 

[Bully Bob]

YES.., The added "goo" we put in the rad.

The more you add.., the eng. will run a bit warmer.

The absolute BEST liquid for cooling is 100% water.

"Coolant" simply moves the boiling/freezing points. (deg.)

(& helps **** the waterpump of course)

 

[astronot]

Just thought I'd mention that in leafing thru a Haynes Bronco manual yesterday I was looking at radiator illustrations. Each radiator has a fan shroud EXCEPT the 6 cylinder. Just a confirmation that BB was right. :blush: