Successful Cooling System Formula:
I finished mods to my cooling system this winter and wanted to share the details in case it helps others keep their cars running cool. I waited to post until I drove the car with the outside temps near 95F, which it is here now. My engine is a mild 302. Since the mods, the collant temp has stayed at 180F or below. This includes sitting in traffic (AC on) after lengthy highway runs with no temp spikes:
4-core brass triple pass (side to side) radiator. $250 made locally. Inlet is upper driver's right and outlet is lower left.
All cooling lines and hoses are 1.5-inch diameter.
2 10-inch diameter, 1000-cfm fans (manually swithced on full time). $40 each.
5/16 inch bleed lines from top of radiator and intake manifold to header tank.
High flow Mr. Gasket 180F thermostat. $12
Milodon "high flow" water pump. The pump is basically a stock unit with a disc tack-welded to the impeller ($79).
1.5 quart Moroso header tank ($95). Bottom output line is 5/8-inch hose connected to water pump side neck (heater inlet).
30% antifreeze/water mixture with 1 bottle of Purple Ice (same as Redline Water-Wetter) added.
I eliminated any restrictions due to slight line kinks and added a piece of ABS plastic sheet to the frame floor in front of the radiator base extending into the front bodywork. I believe the air was glancing off the radiator and shooting under the car. This directs more air through the core. I also mounted the radiator to stand as straight up as possible. The system is low-tech and low-buck and again has not gone over 180F, which is comparable to curing cancer on these cars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I finished mods to my cooling system this winter and wanted to share the details in case it helps others keep their cars running cool. I waited to post until I drove the car with the outside temps near 95F, which it is here now. My engine is a mild 302. Since the mods, the collant temp has stayed at 180F or below. This includes sitting in traffic (AC on) after lengthy highway runs with no temp spikes:
4-core brass triple pass (side to side) radiator. $250 made locally. Inlet is upper driver's right and outlet is lower left.
All cooling lines and hoses are 1.5-inch diameter.
2 10-inch diameter, 1000-cfm fans (manually swithced on full time). $40 each.
5/16 inch bleed lines from top of radiator and intake manifold to header tank.
High flow Mr. Gasket 180F thermostat. $12
Milodon "high flow" water pump. The pump is basically a stock unit with a disc tack-welded to the impeller ($79).
1.5 quart Moroso header tank ($95). Bottom output line is 5/8-inch hose connected to water pump side neck (heater inlet).
30% antifreeze/water mixture with 1 bottle of Purple Ice (same as Redline Water-Wetter) added.
I eliminated any restrictions due to slight line kinks and added a piece of ABS plastic sheet to the frame floor in front of the radiator base extending into the front bodywork. I believe the air was glancing off the radiator and shooting under the car. This directs more air through the core. I also mounted the radiator to stand as straight up as possible. The system is low-tech and low-buck and again has not gone over 180F, which is comparable to curing cancer on these cars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
