I just popped in a set of edelbrock IAS performance shocks. It's like riding in an entirely different car. I found out the shocks I originally had were the original ones from 76. They were about as broke as broke can get.

I also put in a new black magic electric fan. I didn't know I had so much room in my engine bay!!!
Those fans are awesome, but on 76s they are a pain in the **** to install. I had to take off the hood and condenser.

 

Cool, so hows your engine temp doing now?

 

It stays steadily between 120-150. It has an adjustable control switch. The only annoying thing I've found is that the fans run until the engine is brought back down to the desired temp and can kill the battery quick.

 

I see, the fan is independantly powered, so it will continue to run with the key off. Right?

 

It sure does. I rewired most of it though. The original wiring wanted me to take it back to the battery etc so instead I ran it along the side of the fan and to the alternator. Then spliced the fuse into the hot wire. Cleaned it all up with flexible hosing so my engine bay remained clean and tightened it all down with zip strips.

 

Just have the relay powered off of a keyed power source so that when your car is off, it is off. But if you aren't seeing more than 150, I wouldn't even be concerned with having the fan running at all until it gets hotter than that.

 

I'll be going with a larger rad and dual elec fans from dewitt. A great package even though it is a little pricey. I'm all ears on any info that anyone has on the install and bennefits, or pit falls.

 

The electric fans sound like the way to go. Seems these 'Vettes don't cool very well on a super hot day. But one thing I'd be concerned with is premature engine wear with the engine being at that low of an operating temperature.Ithink that 160 to 180 for a small block Chevy is about right. Don't take my word for it. Go to some other sources. My brother questioned my 160 degree thermostat, the first thing Iinstall when I get any small block Chevy, heasked about my gas mileage also. I've never had any issues with less fuel mileage running at 160 rather than 180 to 195, but I do know that too low a temp will cause less efficiency and the premature engine wear.

 

Surely someone agrees or disagrees w/ the temp situation. Or should we let a fellow site member wear his engine out prematurely? Hope I haven't, in the past, ruffled anyone's feathers.

 

I agree with Texas Jim. Too low an operating temperature is no good, the oil does not get hot enough to burn off moisture that can collect in it. You should have an 185* thermostat and run somewhere between 180* and about 210*. You can avoid the high cost of the Dewitts radiator and look for a Universal fit aluminum radiator from Griffin. Cost under $200.00 and works great. The electric fan is overkill at this time and is pulling your battery down, set the fan to come on at 190* or above to aid cooling if the engine starts to get too hot.

I have the Universal fit 19" x 31" aluminum radiator and the stock mechanical fan - no more overheating problems for me! I deleted my auxillary electric fan after installing the aluminum radiator, it wasn't needed any more.