Fan is about 11//2 to 2 inches from the radiator with no shroud.
even that close I'd run some kind of shroud on it. also have ya checked to be sure the radiator hoses aren't collapsing, and what kind of belt set up are you running???? if its a serpintene belt set up, do you have the reverse flow water pump on it or do you have a reverse flow pump on an old V-belt type set up, cause if you have the wrong one on it that also could be the problem. also what kind of fan ya got on it, if its one of those flex fans, I personally would throw it away and use an electric fan on it or a direct fan set up........joe