Electric fans and custom shrouds

[mikester]

Im posting this on a few G body sites to get ideas, opinions and info. Im just about finished with my car. I was originally going to use a Griffin aluminum radiator and a standard metal fan. After messing around trying to get the Cutlass radiator hold down and shroud to work with the aluminum radiator I decided to order a new copper/brass 4 row radiator and use that instead. I didn't like the fact that the rubber saddles don't fit like original.

Now Im considering using a set of electric fans with the OEM style radiator. I can still use the top piece from the Cutlass. I just wont use the shroud. Ive been looking online at different vendors that sell custom shrouds. I think the new core is 26 1/4 x 17. My plan is to spray the shroud semi gloss black to match the support and hold down. Has anyone done this ? If you have can you post a photo ?
Ive been kicking this around since I placed the order for the radiator 2 weeks ago. It should be here by the end of the week so I need to decide what Im going to do.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Flex a lite claims electric fans are not to be used on 4 row radiators. Makes sense because the fan is overworking to pull air through the thick rad. I learned this on my Malibu. Had an electric fan on my 4 core rad when I installed it, and it did not want to stay below 220* on a hot summer day. I hacked up my original fan shroud a bit to fit over the big 4 core rad, and put a mechanical fan on with an HD fan clutch. Now she sits at 195* or lower all year round in all kinds of traffic.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mikester]

That was the way I wanted to go originally. What clutch fan did you use ?

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

I used a flex a lite 18" (I think) with a hayden fan clutch for a 79 chev 454

 

[Geo's66]

What size/hp motor are you running?

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Nothing really, just a bone stock 79 454

 

[Geo's66]

I ask because I've also a 502/615hp chevelle... I've got the aluminum rad w twin electrics and I wish I just stayed with the shroud/fan... Took a long time to get my setup right. A lot of guys over on team chevelle will tell you same thing- stick with a heavy duty fan. I'm going to drop a 383 in my monte when done, and will go fan route this time. Keep us posted, thanks