Radiator & Cooling Fan Options

[oldgrezmonke]

The factory wanted that "long hood / short trunk" look for the Mustangs so there must be a space difference under-hood . With the original 2 row radiator and factory fan in a Falcon there is less than 1 1/2" clearance between fan and core and the rear of the engine clears the firewall by about that , maybe less .

 

[thesameguy]

I've been running a fleabay 'Silla' radiator around 4-5yrs now....very happy with it. It's hard to beat copper in cooling efficiency, but I can attest to the aluminum Silla beating the socks off a worn out one Like most parts, built overseas...but quality seems good. I've heard good things about the Champion brand alum as well.

That is great to hear - did you get the slimmer or the thicker one? A 1.25" thick radiator would give me plenty of room I think.

So are the round bodies that much shorter on clearance, or is this a later model 200 with the slightly longer nosed water pump My '66 has a 'think' ~1.5" spacer which will allow me to convert to a stubby clutch fan combo from a jag that the big-block FE guys run...so not a ton of extra space...but it doesn't sound like you have much of a spacer on yours. Good luck

Like oldgrezmonke said... The engine I have is an ~'68 from a ~'67 Mustang (I was told), and I had to remove the big 1.5" spacer between pulley and fan to make it fit. There just isn't a lot of room in the nose of these cars - unless you put a V8 in.

 

[Frankenstang]

That is great to hear - did you get the slimmer or the thicker one? A 1.25" thick radiator would give me plenty of room I think.

Mine's the thicker two row....about 2-3/16" at the side bracket (core is recessed in a bit from the front edge of the bracket ~1/8"...tank in 3" thick, but not a problem with the fomoco 6 blade fan I've got on there now).

EDIT: yeah I forgot just how snug those roundbody compartments are.

jamyers did some real nice work modifying his roundbody (fitting the thicker radiator in, and a condensor in front of it to boot...took some great pics as well that might give you some ideas)...
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=58405

I'd think you'd be safe with the integral tranny cooler (although I have heard of the cross-contamination failures on platic header rads...last one I heard of was a result of a fender bender though). Maybe you could relocate the cooler into the compartment or elsewhere on the chasis and somehow use both. Good luck