Thread: New guy with hot 350

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Originally Posted by Drod

Ok, lets try to answer a few questions.
Yes, it is shrouded. The fan sets 1" away from the radiator.
A 14" fan is as big as I can put on due to radiator height.
I have changed sending units and the new one isn't paired with my gauge is why I said the thermostat opened at 210. Shoot with temp gun it opens at 175 or so. So I was just calling 210 on my gauge normal.
Run a compression check. all is good. No blown head gasket.
No room for a clutch fan.
I'll try to post pics tonight.
Thanks

First, we have to re-visit what hotrodder means. To me, it means that the builder is able to modify any and all components of the vehicle in order to achieve a certain goal in building the vehicle. Your goal is to transplant a small block Chevy into an "Effie" pickup truck and have it work like factory. This swap has been done successfully thousands of times. Not only that, but 460 Fords and 454 Chevys have been swapped into Effie trucks successfully in the past, so please do not make the statements that you did without considering moving something. Like your "no room for a clutch fan" statement. Baloney, plenty of room for a clutch fan if you use the proper components and engineer the swap properly. I wish you lived next door to me, we'd have this mess worked out over the weekend.

YES, IT IS SHROUDED. THE FAN SITS 1" AWAY FROM THE RADIATOR.
This tells me that you have not considered moving the radiator forward or changing from long water pump to a short water pump to make room for a full, well-fitting shroud, 7-blade, 18" diameter steel fan and thermostatically-controlled fan clutch. Here's a link to understanding the long/short water pump situation.....
Chevy Small Block - Short vs Long Water Pump

A 14" FAN IS AS BIG AS I CAN PUT ON DUE TO RADIATOR HEIGHT.
Then you either have the wrong radiator in the truck or the stock radiator is mis-mounted from its stock location or you don't understand that the shroud can be bigger than the radiator in order to house an 18" fan.

The last engine swap I did before retiring was a 302 Ford and C4 into a Mitsubishi pickup truck. This was the small (D50) type truck. It was necessary to move the radiator forward and remount 2" ahead of its normal position and re-mounting the grille assembly 1" ahead. It looked stock and nobody ever said anything about it looking funky or anything. And it worked. The motor cooled well with the stock radiator, shroud and fan assembly from the Granada donor.

P.S. I don't use electric fans on anything I build. I have respect for those who can use them successfully, but for me, it's mechanical fan or nothing because I have never, ever had a problem with cooling using them. There are those, such as Jack, who understand these electrical systems, but I am not one of them. Of course, now that I'm retired, both my daily drivers have electrical cooling on them, but they were designed to work under all conditions by a team of electrical engineers at the factory. All I have to do is not fool with the systems and they work great. But if I ever do another swap, rest assured that it will be cooled with a full shroud, mechanical fan and fan clutch, operated through vee belts.

.

I had a 65 C10 with a similar set up and identical trouble.
I added an oil cooler with mini fan and it fixed the problem.

[QUOTE=techinspector1; But if I ever do another swap, rest assured that it will be cooled with a full shroud, mechanical fan and fan clutch, operated through vee belts.

.[/QUOTE]


No no Tech - it's "...when I do another swap..."

Ok, I ordered a new radiator. This one for a late sixties to early seventies ford truck with chevy conversion. 3 core, much larger core area and 2 12" fans rated at 1300cfm each with a louvered shroud. Rated at cooling 600 HP. Going to change back to the sending unit for my gauge and see what happens.
Also tried to post pics,,,guess I'm not smart enough.
Thanks for all your advice. I well keep you informed after the radiator install.. Or if your close to middle Tennessee and this don't work, you will probably hear me.

If you'd like some help with the pics.. flip'em to me and I'll put'em up for you.

email at mfmike1@comcast.net

Originally Posted by Drod

Ok, I ordered a new radiator. This one for a late sixties to early seventies ford truck with chevy conversion. 3 core, much larger core area and 2 12" fans rated at 1300cfm each with a louvered shroud. Rated at cooling 600 HP. Going to change back to the sending unit for my gauge and see what happens.
Also tried to post pics,,,guess I'm not smart enough.
Thanks for all your advice. I well keep you informed after the radiator install.. Or if your close to middle Tennessee and this don't work, you will probably hear me.

Sounds a bit like the radiator setup I have on my 66 Ford F100....minus the Chevy engine, of course!

Here's a couple of pics.. and she's a sweet ride too!

Not sure how you done that but thanks. And in the engine picture you can see what I have space wise. I think the new radiator will make the difference.
We love cruisin the old thing even with the issues. If I get them fixed, i'll never be home.

It's a sweet truck, Drod!! I go to a few car/truck shows with a group of guys from a '53-56 F100 truck club out of Orange Co. CA. A couple of the guys have orange ones similar to yours. Gorgeous trucks!! Welcome to CHR and I hope you get your cooling issues sorted out.

I'm not saying that Tech is old school, but this is the last ride he built . . .

flintstones.jpg

Sorry Richard! The devil made me do it.

New 3 core radiator 2 1320 cfm fans and polished shroud. All is good so far. Even put the correct sending unit back in. Now if it will quit raining so we can get out and enjoy.

That's great news. Glad you made it back to share the update.

So kinda new to working on cars here. I am installing a water temperature gauge to the side off my heads on the drivers side. I unscrewed the bolt on the block, and coolant started leaking out. Should this happen? Or is my whole radiator draining its coolant through this hole?

Originally Posted by Swiggy101

So kinda new to working on cars here. I am installing a water temperature gauge to the side off my heads on the drivers side. I unscrewed the bolt on the block, and coolant started leaking out. Should this happen? Or is my whole radiator draining its coolant through this hole?

Depends on which bolt you took out. can you post a picture?