Has anybody found a radiator capable of cooling a hp 350 in a 1985 El Camino? I've got a 3 core now and its not doing the job at 100+degrees. Haven't tried an aluminum one yet.
Frank
Frank
Cooling Problem
- Thread starter ssiron
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Well first look at your setup first. Maybe you do not have the right equipment. You should have duel fans or belt fans. Also you should have a shroud. After that a good size radiator is next.
Running with the 5 blade fan with a new GM fan clutch. Using a 185 degree thermostat. 3 row oem type radiator with oem shroud.
400 hp chevy 350 9 to1 compression ratio, vortec heads, 200r4 transmission, 3.73 posi rearend.
400 hp chevy 350 9 to1 compression ratio, vortec heads, 200r4 transmission, 3.73 posi rearend.
you could bump down the thermostat to a 165 or you can try using a restrictor plate.
before i went electric fans my car was running hotter then i would like.
I would pull the fan and get an electric. Im running a 4 core champion with dual 13" fans and I cant even keep it at operating temp.
before i went electric fans my car was running hotter then i would like.
I would pull the fan and get an electric. Im running a 4 core champion with dual 13" fans and I cant even keep it at operating temp.
It's crossed my mind over the last few days how many people in areas that don;t normally experience 100+ degree temperatures like we have in the South West are experiencing heating problems.
Provided you don't have an issue like a plugged radiator or lower hose that's collapsing go to a 7 blade fan and if that doesn't cure it add the heavy duty version of the fan clutch (mid 70s 454 truck would be the application).
It's what I have on both my 1st Gen LT 1 powered and my 507 Cadillac powered G Body El Caminos. Neither ever runs above 210 degrees (the temperature the fan clutch fully locks in at) even on a 110 degree day with the AC on.
My experience has been to leave the 185 thermostat. Going down down in temp to say a 160 actually causes them to run warmer, probably due to the coolant not dwelling in the radiator long enough.
Provided you don't have an issue like a plugged radiator or lower hose that's collapsing go to a 7 blade fan and if that doesn't cure it add the heavy duty version of the fan clutch (mid 70s 454 truck would be the application).
It's what I have on both my 1st Gen LT 1 powered and my 507 Cadillac powered G Body El Caminos. Neither ever runs above 210 degrees (the temperature the fan clutch fully locks in at) even on a 110 degree day with the AC on.
My experience has been to leave the 185 thermostat. Going down down in temp to say a 160 actually causes them to run warmer, probably due to the coolant not dwelling in the radiator long enough.
Another thing is what mixture are you running. Antifreeze is not as good as water to absorb the engine's heat so you may want to try less antifreeze. I run distilled water with water wetter in the summer.
Running 220 in town and hotter on the highway if running above 70 mph. Should be getting more air thru radiator on the highway.
Have to agree with Mike, thermostats have little to do with operating tempature unless there's something wrong with them. Cooler thermostats can cause heating problems by allowing the water to move too fast thru the radiator. Anyone have any experince with aluminum radiators, would a 2 or 3 row alum increase cooling capacity?
Frank
Have to agree with Mike, thermostats have little to do with operating tempature unless there's something wrong with them. Cooler thermostats can cause heating problems by allowing the water to move too fast thru the radiator. Anyone have any experince with aluminum radiators, would a 2 or 3 row alum increase cooling capacity?
Frank
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