Running hot, need bigger fan and other tricks advice please

[eschaider]

If the cooling system is configured properly you should be able to maintain a 180˚ coolant temperature almost anywhere you would likely go.

Antifreeze is more than just antifreeze today. There are lubricants and any number of other additives added to the product. Properly configured your cooling system should easily be able hold the engine temps to a 180˚ coolant temperature. If you want to have protection from boiling just raising the pressure on the radiator cap will do that.

I think your idea about taking the "steps approach" is the way to engage this puzzle. Do one thing at a time, wait to see what kind of results it produces. Based on what you see decide your next move. The everything at once solution set just guarantees you are going to be in the barrel longer than you need be.

An unsolicited perspective;

If the engine is overheating at idle it is talking to you. It could be lean, it could be a timing issue, it could be an air leak somewhere in the intake tract. Properly timed, with adequate fuel, an engine should not overheat at idle.

[Dominik]

Originally Posted by eschaider

An unsolicited perspective;

If the engine is overheating at idle it is talking to you. It could be lean, it could be a timing issue, it could be an air leak somewhere in the intake tract. Properly timed, with adequate fuel, an engine should not overheat at idle.

Same findings here: At idle you mobilise 20 hp and the equivalent in heat to get rid of.
I kept my car in South Africa comfortably under boiling three red traffic light sequencees in a row. At over 100°F. And stop go traffic.

One 16" pusher fan.

I feel that pusher and puller fans combined can cause air stall between them, resulting in lack of airflow.

What gets often overlooked is timing at idle, as mentioned above. A radical cam needs plenty of 16 deg. If you set a cam with loads of overlap to 6 degrees, the mixture will burn out the exhaust port causing your header to glow.

If your car overheats at speed (above 30 mph) then your radiator flows not enough air. But since you shrouded yours (completely?) this is not an issue. However, I advise to keep the gap above the radiator open to have some air flowing through the engine bay. Keeps the footwells cool.

For racing force all the air you can through the radiator. And suffer.

Put your thermostat in. Or a washer with a ⅝" hole. The seems to harmonize pressure all over the coolant system.