Hello I have a street strip built 302 in my 74'. Last year I re-detailed the engine bay and added a few things to help performance. I was always running a little warm on those days when it was 100+ but now I seem to run warmer than before with my improvements. So I added a factory AC stlye 3 row radiator and a seperate tranny cooler and that did seem to help but still on those days when it is 90+ and I have to idle more than 10 minutes I am creeping up on 210 fast. I have been running a 160 thermostat in the car for 6-7 years now trying to get all the performance out of it I can. I admit thats a little cool for winter and the car takes a while to warm up but the car stays parked all winter. I think I am going to add a extra electric pusher fan to help my belt driven flex fan. A local guy here is telling me that my themostat is my problem, its too low. I am not sure about that theory that the water is traveling too fast, I would think at 180 or 195 that it would stay open constanty once the coolant reached that temp in the summer for those theromstats? Anyway I am sure an aftermarket alm. radiator would fix the problem but I was hoping to make what I have work for now. What advise is out there? Thanks
run one of these http://store.summitracing.com/productdetail.asp?p=2860&view=2047&media=2 it will make a big differance. it will help flow alot! what about a fan shroud?
I use a 180* thermostat. I highly recommend a good electric fan instead of your belt driven fan. When it turns on, the electric fan is spinning at full rpm even if your engine is just idling. Just be sure to get one with enough airflow. Mine is rated at 2900 cfm. Between that and a recovery bottle with the special radiator cap I have no problem keeping cool.
