Cooling a 600 hp BB using only electric fans.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Johnston Iowa
Re: Cooling a 600 hp BB using only electric fans. (zZArAZz)
I running a 509 cubic inch big block in my 69 that dyno'd at 540HP on a DTS engine dyno with only about 28 degrees of timing into it. My engine guy seems to think that if we run the timing out a little farther I should easily gain some more HP getting me between 540HP and 600HP. I'm using a Griffin HP series radiator, Wieand aluminum Team-G series water pump, and twin Spal 13 inch low profile fans mounted in an aluminum shroud that covers the entire radiator core. I have the one fan come on at 185 degrees and the other fan I have toggled for manual operation. I have driven the car very little so far (during the heat of summer) since I'm still in the process of restoring it but so far the the engine has not gone above 200 degrees according to the gauge using only one fan. This summer I plan on taking some better heat readings using a laser heat indicator a buddy of mine has to see how close the factory gauge is. It looks like this combination is going to work but unitil I can drive for long extened periods of time I will not be a 100 percent satisfied. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Re: Cooling a 600 hp BB using only electric fans. (James)
I am making around 580 HP in my solid roller 454. I have the Griffin radiator from Tom Dewitt with dual Spal 11's, Weiand water pump and aluminum heads. I have driven the car in 100 degree traffic and it has never over heated.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Cooling a 600 hp BB using only electric fans. (zZArAZz)
I'm going to go against the grain, even though I'm running dual Spal's. When I dropped the 533 in, I constantly overheated, that prompted me to install the Spal's. Overheating continued until I pulled the radiator, discovered that the bottom four rows of cooling fins were loosee as a goose. I had the stock radiator recored, and what do ya know....no more overheating. Now I am wondering, should I have spent the money on the Spal's? I bet the stock clutch fan would have done the job.
The bottom line, if your radiator is in top shape, your existing set up should be more than adequate.....though the Spal's don't hurt having....
[Modified by GDaina, 9:18 AM 12/31/2002]
The bottom line, if your radiator is in top shape, your existing set up should be more than adequate.....though the Spal's don't hurt having....
[Modified by GDaina, 9:18 AM 12/31/2002]
