1952-59 Ford Overflow can do I need one?

Since I have installed my new engine, EFI 5.0, I'm wondering if I need to add a catch can to the radiator and a fan shroud. My radiator is a br*** one built to fit my 54. All it has is a overflow tube to the bottom of the radiator. Also my fan is only 1/2" from the radiator, with a 1/2" spacer behind it, and no I can't take the spacer out without the fan hitting the power steering pulley. Putting a shroud on the fan is going to be a challenge. I did try a plastic shroud from a mustang, but after t******* it was just no good. I could bend something up out of alum possibly, if I can find some sheet alum. Anyway looking for an opinion from someone who is running a 5.0 , and what they needed to keep things cool.

Ralph

 

I ran a 5.8litre (351 Cleveland) in my oz 58 Customline with a 7 blade flex fan and a 16" pusher fan in front of the radiator. This combo had absolutely no problem coping with the hottest day or heavy, stop start traffic. I didn't use a radiator shroud as, like you, my fan was about 5/8" from the original recored radiator. I actually thought the engine was overheating due to a mechanical SW temp gauge. I found it was reading 40 degrees hotter than it should.
By that gauge the hottest the engine ever got was 230 degrees which was actually 190 degrees.
It is nice to use catch can but it is not necessary if your cap is holding the correct pressure and your radiator is of sufficient capacity. Without a catch can the radiator will settle to its own level. The catch can is probably as much for the environmentalists as anything else. It allays their fears about ethylene glycol leaching into the ground from radiator overflow. Little do they know the catch can will maintain its own level as well if overfilled.

 

I have one of these on two cars and never have had a problem with any coolant loss. One is a a 54 Ford with a stock radiator and a modified 312 and the other is a slightly modified 302 in a 48 Ford.

On the 54, I use a stock four blade fan about 3/4 inches from the radiator. It pulls an unbelievable amount of air through the core. Never had a overheating problem. On the 48, I was always peeing coolant out the overflow. Once I installed the recovery tank it stopped. Ten years ago.

http://www.jegs.com/p/Mr-Gasket/Mr-...w-Tanks/2165059/10002/-1?itemPerPage=90&pno=1

 

This is what I used on my '54: http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/detail.aspx?Item=6323

 

I have a 5.0/302 in our wagon and haven't found I needed a overflow tank nor a shroud.

I used a big aftermarket 6 steel bladed fan. HRP

 

If you opt for the one from O'Reilly's, they can be painted so they are not so con****ious (they are really ugly in the white plastic). I couple of friends used them and painted them flat black and they are not so bad. The round stainless ones are much nicer looking.