How Hot is Too Hot?

[texas_rat_trap]

So I have this pretty Hopped Up 223cid, Bored .040", Block decked .030", Head milled .010", Larger Cheby Valves still need to find out what size valves they are, everything new internally, Schneider Racing 264-F cam, 264 duration, .450 lift, 110 lobe center 220 @ .050". What should normal operating temperature be. At idle its btw. 190 & 210 degrees but when driving at 160 to 175 degrees. I still have stock radiator in car but running a 17" Flex Fan. But want an aluminum radiator. Someone told me about a product called Water Weter, said it will lower operating temp by 20 degrees, anybody used this product or something similar. I'm not worried about driving it but about getting stuck in traffic & over heating. Had a thought.... what about running a oil cooler.

 

[fmartin_gila]

You might try to turn up the idle RPM a bit to speed up the water pump. Kind of sounds like it's not circulating good at low RPMs.

Fred

 

[ludwig]

Smaller pulley wheel on the water pump?

 

[godheadcustoms]

Can you sit in traffic for quite awhile without it rising any higher than 210? If so, I don't think I would really worry about the temps too much. 190-210, while a little bit warm, is nothing to really worry about. As long as it will stay there without creeping up over time. And actually, 165-170 sounds a little too low, IMHO. You need to get the temps up a bit to burn off condensation from the crankcase/oil. It appears that you're overcooling at speed, probably from the fan constantly turning combined with the airflow from the car moving.

Sounds like you might just need to fine tune your combo a bit. I wouldn't think you'll need an Al radiator, unless you just want to run one for appearance sake. They do polish up nice. Otherwise, maybe try different pully dia's or try running an elec fan, or a clutch fan if you can make one work from a newer model. Something that can turn off, so to speak, when you are going down the road and don't require the extra cooling.

 

[Cool23]

40 below from a Company called Pro Blend http://www.pro-blend.com/ is what you need to try. It is a water wetter.

You could also add an electric water pump.

 

[big blue]

The Pro Blend product works really well, another suggestion would be to use Evans Coolant. Lasts 10 years, has a 375 degree boiling point and stabilizes the temperature inside the engine so that the detonation threshold is raised.

 

[texas_rat_trap]

Thanks for all the info guys..

 

[texas_rat_trap]

Fine tuned carbs & timing, everything is tip-top. Temperature stays @ 178 degrees......driving or sitting in traffic. Even on a hot Texas day.

 

[fmartin_gila]

It's so nice when things do finally work out.

Fred

 

[texas_rat_trap]

Fine tuned carbs & timing, everything is tip-top. Temperature stays @ 178 degrees......driving or sitting in traffic. Even on a hot Texas day.

Had the radiator cleaned out...top tank & bottom tank removed and rodded out cuz of a 30% restriction. Car never gets over 165 degrees even traffic on a hot Texas day. Crazy how much the operating temperature can change with a 30% restriction. Almost bought a Alum. radiator... glad I didn't. :mrgreen: