Cooling a BBC Nova

Mike Pearson · 10-09-2008, 08:08 AM

Mount the fan in front of the radiator. Use one of the real thin fans that mount directley to the radiator core. The fans work better when they are pushing the air through the radiator insted of pulling the air. I had to trim the hood latch brace a little to make the fan fit in front of the radiator in my car. Looks real clean and works great.

NovaMan · 10-09-2008, 03:19 PM

I thought fans were more efficient at pulling air?

Grant Eldridge · 10-10-2008, 03:52 AM

I raced a bb 396 1970 Nova using a CSR electric water pump and the stock 6 cylinder radiator re-cored with a three core dimpled core. The fan I used was a 1985? Chev Cavalier unit from the junkyard for $15. and this economy setup cooled fine for racing. The fan had a shroud attached and could be trimmed to fit without much difficulty. Yes, the fan virtually touched the CSR water pump, but did no damage as everything was solidly mounted. This was easy to mount using simple angle brackets below to the lower rad tray edge and above to the radiator upper retaining sheet metal. By running the fan and pump in the pits, the temperature came back down fairly quickly, seldom got over 150 after the pass. The V-8 radiator might be a better choice for better cooling, I believe it uses a bit wider core.

NovaMan · 10-10-2008, 06:21 PM

I have a Griffin aluminum radiator which is approximately the same size as the 4-row stocker it replaced. I'm definitely going to have to go with two smaller fans, maybe about 11" diameter. Any suggestions on good electric fan brands?

NovaMan · 10-10-2008, 08:54 PM

I see a Spal dual 12" (30102052), but it's 23.46" wide and I only have 22.5" of core width.
When you say use one thin fan, what fan are you thinking of?

NovaMan · 10-12-2008, 12:23 PM

Well, I've looked at alot of specs, and Spal makes the thinnest fans I can find. I could use a single 16" (2.48" thick in a 2.5" space), but that would be only 1610cfm. If I ran two 11s, it'd be 1940cfm. I really hate to swallow my made-in-USA pride and buy Italian fans, but I may not have much choice. I'll take some more measurements, then take my radiator with me to the speed shop this week and try a few different fans and see which ones fit on my radiator.
Thanks for the help, guys.

al wisniewski · 10-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Hey Nova,you may want to contact Kirk @ BeCool in Bay City,Mi. 1.800.691.2667 He can help with your cooling needs .Their stuff is kinda pricy but it works.

10-09-2008, 08:08 AM	#1
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,470 Likes: 629 Liked 1,983 Times in 597 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova Mount the fan in front of the radiator. Use one of the real thin fans that mount directley to the radiator core. The fans work better when they are pushing the air through the radiator insted of pulling the air. I had to trim the hood latch brace a little to make the fan fit in front of the radiator in my car. Looks real clean and works great. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

10-09-2008, 03:19 PM	#2
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova I thought fans were more efficient at pulling air? __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-10-2008, 03:52 AM	#3
Grant Eldridge Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova I raced a bb 396 1970 Nova using a CSR electric water pump and the stock 6 cylinder radiator re-cored with a three core dimpled core. The fan I used was a 1985? Chev Cavalier unit from the junkyard for $15. and this economy setup cooled fine for racing. The fan had a shroud attached and could be trimmed to fit without much difficulty. Yes, the fan virtually touched the CSR water pump, but did no damage as everything was solidly mounted. This was easy to mount using simple angle brackets below to the lower rad tray edge and above to the radiator upper retaining sheet metal. By running the fan and pump in the pits, the temperature came back down fairly quickly, seldom got over 150 after the pass. The V-8 radiator might be a better choice for better cooling, I believe it uses a bit wider core.

10-10-2008, 06:21 PM	#4
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova I have a Griffin aluminum radiator which is approximately the same size as the 4-row stocker it replaced. I'm definitely going to have to go with two smaller fans, maybe about 11" diameter. Any suggestions on good electric fan brands? __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-10-2008, 08:54 PM	#5
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova I see a Spal dual 12" (30102052), but it's 23.46" wide and I only have 22.5" of core width. When you say use one thin fan, what fan are you thinking of? __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-12-2008, 12:23 PM	#6
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova Well, I've looked at alot of specs, and Spal makes the thinnest fans I can find. I could use a single 16" (2.48" thick in a 2.5" space), but that would be only 1610cfm. If I ran two 11s, it'd be 1940cfm. I really hate to swallow my made-in-USA pride and buy Italian fans, but I may not have much choice. I'll take some more measurements, then take my radiator with me to the speed shop this week and try a few different fans and see which ones fit on my radiator. Thanks for the help, guys. __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-15-2008, 11:41 AM	#7
al wisniewski Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: auburn,mi. Posts: 56 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cooling a BBC Nova Hey Nova,you may want to contact Kirk @ BeCool in Bay City,Mi. 1.800.691.2667 He can help with your cooling needs .Their stuff is kinda pricy but it works.

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