Project Street Reaper: PROFORM Brushless Fan Cooling Upgrade
The cheap Amazon radiator on Project Street Reaper has done its job. It kept the 350 from cooking itself while we sorted the rest of the build. But cheap has its limits. We have reached them. The next chapter is about cooling the right way, starting with the PROFORM dual 12-inch brushless fans (P/N 67038).
Key Takeaways
- The cheap Amazon radiator served its purpose, but now it’s time for a better cooling solution with PROFORM brushless fans.
- PROFORM brushless fans (P/N 67038) prevent overheating, pull 4,200 CFM, and draw less current compared to standard fans.
- To enhance the cheap radiator, the installation of PROFORM brushless fans will improve cooling performance significantly.
- Next, a PROFORM slim-fit radiator system (P/N 69605.2) will replace the Amazon radiator for a more efficient setup.
- Future plans include considering the PROFORM Tundra oil and transmission cooler fan combo (P/N 69572-13) for potential transmission upgrades.
Why We Are Done With The Amazon Fan Setup
The radiator in Street Reaper right now was not the plan. The stock unit started leaking. We had an Amazon radiator and fan combo sitting in the shop from a previous purchase, so it went in as a stopgap. Those fans have a history, though. We ran the same setup on the Nova. They stranded us more than once. The fan motors would overheat and shut down, sometimes mid-cruise, sometimes in traffic. We knew going into the build that the Amazon setup was temporary. The PROFORM brushless fans (P/N 67038) are the real fix.
What Makes PROFORM Brushless Fans Different
Brushless motors do not generate the same internal heat that killed our Amazon fans. That is the core difference. It matters for a car that sees real street use. The PROFORM brushless fan kit (P/N 67038) pulls 4,200 combined CFM. The profile is only 3 inches deep. Each fan draws 15 amps with a soft-start ramp that kills the amp spikes. At 3.9 pounds each, they will not stress the radiator tanks. Wiring is positive and negative. No proprietary controller required.
Making The Cheap Radiator Work With PROFORM Brushless Fans
Before we swap in a full PROFORM slim-fit system, we are spending time on the cheap core first. That is how real builds work. You do not always have the right parts on hand. There is real value in learning to make what you have perform better. This first installment focuses on mounting the PROFORM brushless fans (P/N 67038) to the existing radiator. We will document the temperature difference, dial in the wiring, and show the airflow results before and after.
What Is Coming After That
Once the brushless fans prove out on the cheap core, we pull the Amazon radiator. In goes the PROFORM slim-fit radiator system (P/N 69605.2), built specifically for the 1970-81 Camaro and Firebird. The core measures 27 x 17 inches, and the entire system, including the shroud and integrated fan, comes in under 4 inches thick. That is up to 40% thinner than cobbling together a separate core, fan, and shroud the traditional way. It comes pre-assembled and rated to 600 horsepower, which gives our built 350 plenty of headroom.
The fan motor on the slim-fit system is integrated directly into the core rather than bolted to the outside. That design keeps the overall depth down and cleans up the engine bay considerably. Every kit ships with the shroud, electric fan, adjustable thermostat, wiring harness, and radiator cap. Nothing to source separately.
We will also cover the manual versus automatic radiator question during that install. The (P/N 69605.2) is spec’d for automatic transmission applications, meaning it includes an internal trans fluid cooler. Using a manual trans radiator on an automatic car paired with a dedicated external cooler is a setup worth understanding, because there are real reasons builders go that route. We will break it down.
Down the road, we are also looking at the PROFORM Tundra oil and transmission cooler fan combo (P/N 69572-13), for when we decide whether Street Reaper stays a stick car or makes the jump to an automatic.
For the full build history, start with the MSD ignition install that got us to this point. The cooling series starts now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brushless motors do not generate the internal heat that causes standard fan motors to overheat and shut down. They also draw current more efficiently, which reduces amp spikes that can damage wiring and relays over time.
The PROFORM (P/N 67038) dual fan kit is universal and designed for 12-volt systems. At 13.5 x 12.5 inches per fan with a 3-inch depth, they fit most popular cars and trucks, including first and second-gen Camaros with standard radiator cores.
Automatic transmission radiators include an internal cooler for transmission fluid. Manual transmission radiators do not. Running a manual transmission radiator on an automatic car is possible if you add a dedicated external transmission cooler, and many builders prefer this setup for better cooling control.
No. The PROFORM (P/N 67038) fans wire directly to a 12-volt system with a positive and negative connection. No engine-specific controller is required, which makes them straightforward to install on any classic car or truck.
A budget radiator can hold temps on a mild street, small block, but airflow is the bigger variable. Pairing a cheap core with quality brushless fans improves cooling significantly. That said, a proper performance radiator matched to your engine’s output is always the better long-term solution.
