PhotoVette1

I haved owned my '77 for 7 years. Before that I had a '81 for 5 years.

Never before have I installed a better combination of components for engine cooling then I have now. I just completed the overhaul, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

The components I used:

DeWitt's Aluminum Radiator
There has been a lot said about this radiator on this forum--all good--so I won't go into details as to its cooling ability; this is common knowledge by now. I will say that the quality and ruggedness of construction was beyond my expectations--it is so well made it is almost art. Also, Direct Fit is not a good name--it should be called Perfect Fit--it more accurately describes the installation.

Edelbrock Victor Water Pump
High flow rate, and long lasting--this was an easy choice.

Robertshaw High Flow Thermostat
A must with the Edelbrock water pump--I chose 180F. The more flow the better--forget what some say about the coolant flowing too fast through the radiator to cool down. If that were true than the coolant would also be traveling too fast through the motor to pick up heat.

New Radiator Seals
Naturally.

Delta Current Control Fan Speed Controller
I have tried all the other fan controllers--they are junk compared to this one. Worth every penny. Bullet-proof contruction--solid wiring terminals. Controls from 10% to 100% power--ramps up smoothly. Came preset for a 180F thermostat but can be adjusted to any temperature by either changing a jumper or by using the optional in-car dial. It shows fan speed by an LED in car panel light that changes from green to yellow to red as fan speed increases.
This controller also senses coolant temperature at the outlet of the radiator. This allows the radiator, with just the natural airstream, to do its best before the fan kicks in. I have always thought that this is the best place for a sensor and DCC has proved me correct.
A fun part is that when I turn off the motor, the controller ramps the fan down in a way that the fan slowing down sounds exactly like a jet turbine ramping down--you should see the looks my Vette gets! Not loud, but very distinctive--very cool.

Mark VIII Fan
Fit like a glove. Covers more of the radiator than any other electric fan. The RF64 version puts out 5500 cfm according to rumor. I will say that at 100% power, it easily excedes the factory fan/clutch system. Yes, that's right--I have no way to measure it except by feel, but I've been under the hoods of C3's for years and this fan really roars out the air. When I first mounted it and tested it at 100% power, all the leaves and crap that had been accumulating under the Vette for the last 4 months were blown into the driveway--I spent a good 15 minutes looking for screws. This amount of airflow needs the DCC controller to regulate it properly--100% power will maybe never have to be engaged, but I like to know its there.

shafrs3

How many amps can that fan potentially draw?

marshrat99

Thanks for sharing since achieving adequate cooling seems to be a continuing problem from a lot of our Forum Brothers & Sisters. Interestingly I've not encountered similar issues with my 79. However when I built my slightly moded 355, the original rad leaked like a sieve on the reinstall and I replaced with a new OEM 4 core and of course new hoses, pump and thermostat.

PhotoVette1

42 amps. At 50% DCC controlled speed, it draws 12 amps.

PhotoVette1

I have a medium moded 355.

noonie

Sounds like you've got the perfect setup.

Baskin really knows his cooling. No with him.

So did you add a bung to the outlet or are you using his standard sensor?

PhotoVette1

The standard sensor--a mounting tab on the Mark VIII actually holds it in just so.

SIXFOOTER

Very nice.

Gordonm

Could you elaborate a little on the fan speed controller. I have the "other" controller and it works but I have not been 100% satisfied with it. What kind of sensor does it use and where is it mounted and the big question is how much $$$

PhotoVette1

This will tell all---> http://www.dccontrol.com/

The only modification I made was that I used a vacuum switch on the ported vacuum carb port to disable the a/c mode. That is, when the a/c is on, the controller turns the fan on 50% power. I thought that was unnecessary when the car is moving. So, by putting a vacuum switch on ported vacuum, the a/c 50% mode only comes on when the throttle is closed, ie, when the car is stopped or coasting.

Gordonm

Looks like a nice system. I'll read into more when I get a chance. I don't have AC but do have dual fans. I see a splitter for the wiring for dual fans so that should not be a problem. Thanks for the info.

Durango_Boy

Hey Photo, do you still have that video of when you tested the MarkVIII?

CA-Legal-Vette

Very nice setup. Many questions!

Can't see from your profile if you have an auto transmission. If so, did you rout the cooling lines through the rad or a separate cooler?

I can see the attachment for the fan on top. Did you have to fabricate this or did it come with the fan? How did the bottom attach? Since the fan wasn't the same footprint as the rad, where did the seals go, along the rim of the fan enclosure?

Again, very nice system.

PhotoVette1

No, I accidently erased it when I dumped all my shoots of Nova when we had a spiff. I am making another one with Julie as soon as we get back from Florida. The Vette is all gas'd up and we're leaving for Florida in 45 minutes...

BlueL36

You put the best in- congrats!

BerniesVette

Photo Vette,
Great article! I followed your posts and was ready to do the same thing to my 79. I have The Mark VIII fan and all I lacked was the Delta controller. Then I let my 79 go and got a 92. The C4s have a cooling issue too but we C3 guys know how to solve those problems don't we?! Gread work!
Bernie

Crunch-o-Matic

Fellas -- not to hijack the thred but I have a question about my fan setup.

I have a becool alum rad in my 73 vert. I added two 10" elec fans (autozone). Only thing is I attached the fans through the fins of the radiator with the supplied plastic fasteners. Not sure I like the attachment method.

I get great cooling but is the way I attached my fans going to cause problems, ie, radiator damage?

Cheers,

Crunch

Durango_Boy

It's possible but not guaranteed. The best way to mount would be to fab some brackets that hang from the top and support from the bottom. That will put the load of the fan on the core support and not the fragile fins and core of the radiator.

BerniesVette

I had twin 12 inch fans on my stock rad and used the rubber pads and plastic fasteners to hold them to the rad and I had no problems with that setup. I was going to install the Mark VIII fan and would have made brackets to hold it in.
Bernie

Durango_Boy

Would you have sealed around the edges of it's plastic shroud or just mounted it to the surface?