Keeping the Olds cool...

[mheath717]

I seem to have a problem with keeping my Olds 350 cooled down. I have it in a 1984 cutlass with the stock radiator. I do have a heavy duty water pump. With the 195 thermostat in place, my car got up to 235 degrees. Scared me pretty bad. lol. So as a temporary fix, I put a 160 degree thermostat in there. With the 160 thermostat in place, the car runs about 210 degrees. But I was looking for a aluminum radiator. I found a two row on eBay for around $170 shipped. Would a two row keep my motor cool? The motor is a 69 olds that is basically stock. It has been bored .030 over with a little comp cam. Nothing to crazy.

Have any of you purchased any aluminum radiators off eBay? What should I do? I don't want to spend money on something that won't help me. I was thinking I might need to spend a little more and get a three row.

 

[dan2286]

I just wanted to say to verify the gauge is reading correctly. Use an infared thermometer on the engine to see if the temp matches the gauge. I almost wasted a lot of money thinking my car was running at 220, but found out I had the wrong sending unit. The engine was actually running at 190 with a 195 thermostat. I am using a completely stock cooling system on my stock 70 Olds 350 and it works very good.

 

[breeaad]

Personally if I were spending a chunck on a new aluminum radiator I would go up to the 3 row unit. They cost a little more, but why not get a little better unit?

 

[82cutty]

I have a 4 core brass in my 82 with a mild 350 and it runs 180 all the time. My 73 has a good build with a 2 core aluminium radiator and a hi flow pump. I have a mild stall and a lot of timing so it used to run hot now it runs about 185 to 190 on any given day an condition. Olds motors can run hot, my old 455 ran 200 to 210 to 220.

 

[mheath717]

I put a temp guage on it just to make sure, so I know it is working properly. But I think I want to just go ahead and replace the stock radiator and be sure. Probably go with the three row. Thanks for the input.

 

[88hurstolds]

F body aluminum radiator - $90
Water Wetter -$13
Few gallons of DISTILLED water -$3
One gallon of Antifreeze -$11

15-20% antifreeze to distilled water with Water Wetter, just follow the directions.

Kept my 455 way cool, never over heated once, screw those huge $200-300 Aluminum radiators, complete waste of money...

 

[FE3X CLONE]

You may just have a partially clogged radiator. I know when I swapped in my 455 I reused the radiator I had in the car thinking it was fine. I had cooling issues with that engine from day one. It would constantly run at 220*F and would get up to 240*F on the interstate.

Turns out the radiator I thought was good was clogged and only half was being used to cool the engine.

I bought a stock, 307 w/AC replacement radiator and never had a problem again. Temps would always stay around 180-190.

Also, another misconception is that a colder thermostat will help the situation. However a thermostat will not help an engine run any cooler if the system isn't capable of doing so. All it does is help delay the onset of the overheating since it opens at a colder temperature, but if the system isn't cooling properly, it will still reach the same operating temp.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Spend a couple of dollars extra and get the 3 core aluminum. Get a high flow 160 thermostat in there. I have seen and been told Olds v8's run hot. 350 and larger seem to have more problems. The bigger the rad, the better. My truck with a 9 to 1 350 runs around 175-180 idling, gets to 210 in hot weather with a 2 core aluminum G body rad. When I had the original 34" wide truck rad, the gauge barely moved. Go bigger

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I have seen and been told Olds v8's run hot.

That's probably because most are built my Chevy guys that run the clearance's too tight for an Olds. 😉

I know I always hear people talk about how 403's are supposed to have cooling problems but we've never once had a problem with ours. 180-190*F tops on the hottest days. Same with my 455.

 

[mheath717]

You may just have a partially clogged radiator. I know when I swapped in my 455 I reused the radiator I had in the car thinking it was fine. I had cooling issues with that engine from day one. It would constantly run at 220*F and would get up to 240*F on the interstate.

Turns out the radiator I thought was good was clogged and only half was being used to cool the engine.

I bought a stock, 307 w/AC replacement radiator and never had a problem again. Temps would always stay around 180-190.

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Well you know.... That is the radiator that was in the car when I purchased it five years ago. I think I will just go to the parts store and get a new stock radiator. Hopefully that clears me up.