Radiator swap for 65' 531w

Hey guys, I know this thread is similar to one (or more?) of the other threads, but I have some interesting circumstances, and I was hoping to get some advice on them. Okay, so I'm running a 351W in a 65' coupe, the radiator currently in it is not cooling well enough, it is the stock copper/brass one that came with the 289, and tho it doesn't leak it shows it's age.
The engine itself isn't exactly stock, i'm running an Edelbrock Hi-po air intake, Edelbrock hi output 4v, a performance air filter (I can't remember off the top of my head the brand, but it's not a Fram) w/ hood scoop. Also, I have power steering, however much difference that would make. I am finishing up rebuilding the top end this week, and the entire engine was rebuilt maybe 7 years ago (only 10,000 miles ago or so), so it should be running pretty clean.
The biggest variable that I can't really predict here(and have gotten lots of different opinions on) is my radiator fan. The guy before me (obviously having the same cooling problems) put in an aftermarket radiator fan. It is a non-electric, 6bladed fan (blades are 4' wide). I do not, however, have a radiator shroud. I have had some stock purists tell me that I need to swap it back to stock to get the shroud, but I am not confident that it will help the problem. Opinions? So yea, I am thinking that the best solution is to leave the fan be and get a new radiator. I am not sure where I should go with this...part of me wants to believe that the problem lies mostly with its' age, and just swapping in a new one would fix everything, but I would not be happy about drooping $200 just to be proven wrong.
(third one down)
Mustang Parts House

Or I could go with the generic aluminum radiator and run the risk of not being able to figure out how to get it in. I am reasonably creative at such things, but do not have an overwhelming amount of metalwork experience, so i'm not sure on this one.
www.pitstopusa.com - Detail
(And are there different ones like this that you would reccomend???)

Finally, I could drop the major change and go for the correctly fitted aluminum one. I found two, which the major difference between the two that I found was $130, I would appreciate if any of you guys have any input on difference.

(The $300 variety)
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(The $430 variety)
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(PS, all of these are within my means to acquire, but it would delay other pony projects for financial reasons if I were to drop $430 for a radiator...)

Any input you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I wish I could give you a hp approximate for the engine, but I really don't know...i would guess somewhere in the ballpark of 300? If anyone cared to guess on that I'd love to know what you think (given the limited info that I have...no idea on piston brand and the like) Thanks!

Pretty much every bit of info I've seen says without the shroud, you are getting poor airflow through the rad itself. A large portion of the air you are moving is just recirculated from the back/sides to the front of the fan. In addition, in years of working in industirial facilites, I've never seen NAY fan installed without sometype of shroud to improve the efficientcy.

I had a similar situation on a previous '67 I had - I junkyard sourced a shroud and had the rad cleaned - problem gone, even in Fla with the air running.

I fought this crap for years. Shroud or no shroud didn't make any difference on my car. Even tried various length spacers to move the fan further in or out of the shroud area. Finally bought a 2 core aluminum radiator and ditched the flex fan for a regular old Ford mechanical fan. Problem solved. I still use the shroud but the issue was having was trying to pull enough air through a 4 row radiator with a flex fan. Just didn't work. Get a piece of flagging tape and hold it in front of the radiator and behind it to see how much air you are actually pulling through. Then check your radiator and see how clean it is inside and out.
RK

Just finished/up with the same problem, and all's fine now. A alum. stock size radiator can be purchased on ebay from a dealer in Phoenix, Az. and delivered to your door for $198.00, it has 2 1" core tubes and the top will polish/up nicely. Fits perfect, Fan is back about 1 1/2" from rad. and the stock 289 shroud will fit and the fan should be out of the shroud about a 1/2 or a 1/3. car now needs a thermosate to bring temp. back up.

Originally Posted by 65ROCKETMAN

Just finished/up with the same problem, and all's fine now. A alum. stock size radiator can be purchased on ebay from a dealer in Phoenix, Az. and delivered to your door for $198.00, it has 2 1" core tubes and the top will polish/up nicely. Fits perfect, Fan is back about 1 1/2" from rad. and the stock 289 shroud will fit and the fan should be out of the shroud about a 1/2 or a 1/3. car now needs a thermosate to bring temp. back up.

Hey, thanks everyone for the input! 65rocketman, do you by any chance know the name of the place out of Phoenix that makes those radiators? This is the closest thing that I could find, but I think that it's a single core. (not written very clearly)

eBay Motors: ALL ALUMINUM 1964 1965 1966 FORD MUSTANG RADIATOR V8 (item 250313118717 end time Nov-21-08 09:55:24 PST)


As long as I can track down that radiator, I will prob try it and see how things go. If it doesn't cool well enough, I will look into a new fan with a shroud. Thanks everyone for the help.

The mods you listed should not affect the temp of your engine over a stock one...Since the engine cooled well enough from the factory going back to factory parts isn't a bad idea as far as the fan and shroud are concerned..If you are still having problems stepping up to a new rad is probably a good idea,especially if yours is a little shaky....

I have a warmed over 351C in my '66 Mustang. I 'm using a Northern 2 core aluminum radiator from Summit (which is a direct bolt in), a 3.5" fan shroud from NPD and a stock '70 Mustang flex fan. It cools great, no overheating even in traffic. All this for well under $300.

Oscar's rad's in Ph. Az. their on ebay now for $199. plus $24. shipping.