Bob 66 coupe

I have a 66 coupe, 327, 300, 4 speed that indicated a overheating problem when in city traffic. When the car is moving the gauge hovers aroung the center of the temperature gauge. However when I get caught in stop and go traffic the gauges heads to the extreme right side of the gauge. When I get moving again the gauge will come back towards the center. I have looked at the relationship between the bottom of the radiator (which is new along with the water pump) and the fan shroud - and there is a gap of about 1 to 1.5 inches. While ideling and using a tissue on a stick, I notice a lot of the air goes through the gap rather than through the radiator. First - should there be a gap between the ratiator and the fan shroud? Second, I notice in the parts catalogue they sell a shroud extension and radiator seals for 66 327 with AC. Has anyone have any experience with adding the seals and shroud extension to help with cooling? Should there be a 1.5 inch gap between the fan shroud and the bottom of the radiator. Thanks

65GGvert

No. You won't all the air coming through the radiator, not around it.

Nowhere Man

Want brand of radiator did you buy

5thvet

Many of us use that bottom seal that was suppose to be just for AC cars. I don't know why they didn't add that to non ac cars. I also bought some regular black insulation tubes that you would use for home AC lines to fill in any spaces at the top or along the sides. My 327-300 used to creep up in traffic too but since I closed those spaces, it runs at 180 in traffic and on the freeway.

Scott Marzahl

What kind of shape is your fan clutch in and is it stock type water pump?

Bob 66 coupe

It is a copper core from Corvette Central

Bob 66 coupe

Just replaced the fan clutch. New water pump is an AC for the 66.

JohnZ

Which has 30% less cooling capacity than the correct stacked-plate Harrison aluminum radiator the car had originally.

ctjackster

da dum dum

Hard to swallow, but true. Don't feel bad, many of us have been there.

MikeM

I have experience with a copper radiator. Don't know who made it. Runs at 180* on the road. That's the thermostat calibration that's in it.

You get in stop/go, the temp will climb to around 205* on a hot day in the 90's. I know my fan clutch is not worn out.

For some reason, my '65 has the rubber flap on the bottom of the shroud that seals the bottom of the radiator. It's not an AC car.

When it gets in the 90's, I don't drive it as too hot so the copper radiator is not a problem to me.

donbayers

What exact fan clutch did you buy and where?

I just ordered one from Paragon, which is supposedly the correct replacement one GM has now discontinued making.