Thread: Cooling !

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Hello Guys ,

I am getting ready to put my car on the street .
13 to 1 big block any tips on keeping this big block as cool as possible .

I have aluminum Radiator Ford 5.0 Fan .

Should I run a thermostat ?

Thanks FOR YOUR HELP !!

Sixto**

What fuel?

110 or 116

Here's a good compilation of information regarding hot rod cooling. Read through it and pay particular attention to the paragraph "Cadillac Radiator Swap". The '76 was 552 square inches of core area. Swapping in that core support and having Ron Davis build you a radiator would in my opinion, be about as good as it gets. Others here may have varying opinions.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ng_system_tips
http://www.rondavisradiators.com/Welcome.htm

thanks !!!

Thanks to both you guys , great article , and great advise .

I will give this a try !!!

Thanks again !

Sixto

Originally Posted by DennyW

((Should I run a thermostat ?))

Yes you should. You have to think about the main purpose of the thermostat to fully understand why you should run one. The purpose of it, is to get the engine block temp up to a good operating temp for fuel atomization, and to stabilize all the parts to the proper intended sizes. Plus, it helps do this more quickly with one. It's not there for your heater, or any other purpose. But, the heater sure helps in the winter...

Adding to Denny's statement, in some instances you need the thermostat to give the coolant enough residence time in the radiator for it to lose heat to the air. I found this to be true in the south Texas coast area with summer humidity, which you will also see in Miami. I was newly arrived to NAS Corpus Christi many years back and could not keep my old Chevy cool. After fighting it for a few weeks a local asked what thermostat I was running (none), and putting in a 180F stat solved my cooling problems for the duration of my stay there.

Thank you guys !!!!!

what do you guys think about electric water pumps ???

No gain. Takes more juice to run it than you save on turning a water pump mechanically. And the alternator will have to make the juice to run it, which just moves the mechanical function from the water pump to the alternator. And most of them, unless you spend upwards of $350, will not move enough water to run them on the street.

Great for a race car though, if used with an electric fan. You can cool the motor between rounds without running the motor to turn the mechanical water pump and engine-driven fan.

There will be those who disagree with me, but it's hard to beat a properly-sized radiator (I'd be thinkin' 500+ square inches), full shroud, thermostatically-controlled fan clutch and 18-inch, 7-blade OEM steel fan (I'd be thinkin' minimum 2 3/4" pitch), driven off the crank with a Flow-Kooler or equivalent water pump.

ok , thanks for the insight .

I have an ford 5.0 electric fan , it has worked well for me before .
not sure if it will cut it on this engine ?