3 or 4 core radiators

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if you're hitting 220*+ in 2min after a cold start there's a real problem.
 
the engine was just put in,this is a full drag race engine,with 402 horsepower and an 11.77:1 compression,i have a clutch fan and the stock radiator in my cutlass.The car is not driveable yet as i need parts to complete it,so its sitting in the garage,i can only run the engine not drive the car.I have a water restrictor in place of a thermostat,waterpump from mondello,50/50 coolant and the stock 2 core radiator.Looking at the mechanical sunpro temp gauge inside,its says it hits 205 if ran for over two minutes,it is the radiator,the guy i bought this engine off of had a 4 core in his cutlass with this engine and it ran at 150 degrees with the same water restrictor,so its the radiator,not the waterpump or clutch fan.The clutch fan i'm using is the original one from my cutlass,it worked perfect with the 307.I want to drive my cutlass soon,i wont have the money for the radiator,as i'm buying the other parts to make it driveable,would i have problems driving down the highway with it?would it overheat,or would the cold air hitting the rad help a little bit?
 
the holley is not running lean,its tuned perfect for this application/engine.I have the original fan shroud on it too.I doesnt have the idle set,just me holding the throttle open a little bit til the idles set,timing is at 34 degrees.
 
My 383 runs about 20 degrees hotter going down the interstate then it does in the city? i have a 160 stat and normally sits at 175-180 and on highway 200 flat no matter what.
 
Here is a few at RockAuto that offer heavy duty cooling, usually aluminum. I ordered a 4 core for my Bonnewagon and got aluminum. Cheap,too. Your set up sounds pretty radical, you may need a real 4-core with dual electric fans and an over-ride switch. My Pontiac 400 with 278 cam stayed cool with a narrow 3-row 6 cylinder radiator and 195 thermostat, but I used a big fat old school Catalina fan with a new thermo clutch. When it kicks in it sounds like a hurricane under the hood. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1218822,parttype,2172
 
does it stabilize at 205*? if so, than a larger rad will probably be fine. if it keeps climbing rapidly and going to a true overheat though...
 
I have the engine running with open headers and a bad alternator belt and i have to hold the throttle to keep it running at 1000 rpm or else it dies,i havent ran this motor for more than 3 minutes due to setting the timing and the bad alternator belt,not to mention that its loud.This highest i had it was around 205 degrees,i dont want a blown head gasket so i stop it when it gets to about 205.I'm looking toward a very good 3 core that'll keep this thing under control or find a good 4 core.
 
Blake442 said:
Check your fan clutch, it could be bad and not be pulling enough air through the radiator.

I got an aluminum 2-core that's as wide as a 4-core off eBay a couple years ago for like $200. Keeps my 455 happy.
do you know the brand name of your 2 core radiator?
 
Get the Champion aluminum 3 core rad, cools my 403 very well. I had many issues with cooling. A good shroud 7 blade clutch fan, high flow thermostat and water pump. The Dodge stratus fans move a lot of air, cools my car no problem.
 
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