You actually look to have more grill area that our thirty nine Buick. Ours is on the original rad or a long ago original type replacement. In any event the cooling demand with the much more powerful 327 under the hood is seemingly easy met.

Yet there is a problem. The underhood temperatures are far higher than I like created by a lack of enough air flow through the engine compartment. The radiator would see even more increased efficiency if I had some louvers punched into the inner fenders. When I open one side of the hood after a good run there is just too much retained hot air in there. Indicating the lack of enough air flow through the engine compartment.

I have also always thought at high speed engine cooling is more influenced by the natural air flow through the radiator more than fan effect. So any change occurring in the engine compartment should not reduce air flow volume ability. It actually increases the air pressure enabling better air flow through the radiator and engine compartment with a well fitting shroud.


I think the 327 engine in place of the straight eight in our car does exactly that. Impairs the flow through and the engine compartment gets pretty hot as a result. Not hot enough to damage the paint on the hood but it should be lower.