Hot Rods Technical

I have a 34 Master with a 350 Chevy, no air, no power steering, water pump, alternator, fan that’s it. Currently I have 3.75” from closest section of fan blade to the radiator. I have an aluminum 3 core radiator and an aluminum fan. The 350 is right at 300 hp, and moves with a turbo 350. It’s planned to have the tranny cool through the radiator. I don’t have any spacers of the fan as of now. No shroud at this time.
my radiator is 17 3/4 wide

My question is is 3.75 to far away from the radiator?
I ordered a universal shroud but it doesn’t look like there is room.
Any input is appreciated. Please be as clear as possible.
Thanks in advance for everyone’s help

 

I personally think you'll be fine, but the proof is in the pudding. I'm not a fan of running my transmission fluid through the radiator, as i was told by an old transmission builder, you're just pre heating the transmission fluid.

 

might depend on the fan...pictures? some of the aluminum fans don't have very good blades.

 

I know that's right. Short story.
Guy motions "Rev it up."
Did.
Bam!!!!
Engine shaking.
Steam.
Trail of water.

Piece of tapered flex fan had sliced radiator hose and hit the bottom of the hood. Recommend shroud for safety.

 

The term "universal shroud" just means you're going to have to modify it for your particular situation. In your case, the big round part should probably be 4" from the radiator.
I say "probably" because I haven't seen your set up so I have to guess a little bit.

 

Mostly will depend on the fan blade. The flex fan types pull a lot less air then solid steel blades. Our Freightlines at work have the fan 8" from radiator and sticking 3/4 of the way out of the shroud, but the blade design pulls so much air, distance doesn't matter.

 

You do not want the fan in the shroud https://www.flex-a-lite.com/blog/the-perfect-fan-shroud-position/ I had a farm tractor that would not stay cool went with a thicker radiator and kept the same shroud and it still got hot. Trimmed the shroud bask so the fan was about half in and no more problum

 

Fan blades should be half way in the shroud, halfway out.
Always worked for me, Oh I like a six blade steel fan also!
KK

 

Something like this

 

Are you running a hood? Does it run hot now? Factory steel fans work a lot better than aftermarket aluminum.

 

I prefer the fan to be about 2" from the radiator & I like a steel fan. HRP

 

I ran my 66 chevy pickup for 17 years with a 350, 4 barrel, standard transmission, ordinary fan, the radiator that came in it, not new. About 7 inches fan to radiator, no shroud. Never ever ran hot and thats pulling a loaded trailer all over Texas in the summer

 

Years ago we had a 72 Monte Carlo. The shroud must have been 8 inches deep. The fan was about half in/out of shroud as suggested above. Worked fine, just like GM engineered it.

Phil