Thread: Cooling a 415 with 525HP

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Guys I have a 65 Nova, not much engine room or grille area to let all that cool air in. I have just put a Griffen 2 row radiator in with a low profile puller fan on this past weekend and I can't seem to keep the temp down to 200 on a hot afternoon.
Any suggestions on water pump, thermostat or a good fan combo would be much appreciated.

I have a four core rad with dual 12 inch puller fans. It does the job handsomely.

Originally posted by TyphoonZR
I have a four core rad with dual 12 inch puller fans. It does the job handsomely.

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After the two core Griffen was installed I only had 3 3/4" to the water pump pulley so the bigger radiator is out. What does anybody think about a electric water pump?
I have heard that if you run the water to fast through the radiator it doesn't have time to cool.

410 inch (alky) circle track motors are a bear to keep cool, A 2 core radiator even though it is a Griffen just ain't up to the chore...... 220 probally ain't that bad considering modern day alum.engine pass cars don't turn the fans on untill 226 degrees, but then again I don't want my hotrod to run over 180........

When water flows across a surface, the layer touching the surface does not move, forming a sort of insulating film. The faster you move the water through, the thinner the film, so the greater the coeficient of heat transfer.

Look into a Flow-Kooler water pump. They move the water much faster than stock at low RPM then revert to normal flow above 2500-3000.

http://www.flowkooler.com/

I have one on the 350 in my Studebaker and it works great. Also add a shroud around your fan if you don't already have one.

Also, I had a 63 Nova with a small block 400 and I don't recall radiator to waterpump clearance being a problem. Are you using the short waterpump? You can also mount the radiator in front of the core support to gain clearance if you have to.

Hope this helps

Pat

Well thats what I heard was the case wit da old flatties I think, they would take out the thermostat and it would run through too fast and not absorb any heat. But as for goin through the rad too fast..I don't think so. I have a really good way for you to find out if it is cooling efficiently enough. Get a heat gun sensor, you know...the type that uses a laser to give you a readout? Test the coolant temp at the top of the rad and at the bottom, if there is hardly any diff then you got a prob with the rad or weak pump. The most drop I think you should get is about 40 degrees C which is whatever it is in Fahrenheit. If you don't have one of those then surely a local garage should have one that you could borrow, rent or have them test fairly quickly with it. I personally don't like the idea of an electric water pump because of the whole short limited lifetime that they have. You could be left stranded without a water pump when it fails. Also, if you haven't already dropped in a cooler thermostat try that, and if your fans or fan is not half in the shroud and half out then it won't be pulling enough air through the rad and onto the engine as it should. The old dodge trucks sometimes came from the factory without shrouds and they were pretty bad for overheating. So the placement of the fan is pretty important. So is the blade angle. Check the hoses for kinks or tight spots as well. I suppose you could modify the radiator support to get in a bigger rad as well but more work that way. And finally, I suppose you could even try a serpentine belt setup and run dual electric fans through the shroud. Or better yet, drive really fast everywhere you go and keep the air blowing! Hard to keep the cops off your tail but at least she won't overheat!

Same to me Tech, I mentioned moving the rad support or modifying it and other junk and in the meantime other responses came in...Good stuff, good stuff, thats what we get for long drawn out answers!....not that it is bad or anything. As for hcar, I'm sure something on this page will fix your heat problem.

Originally posted by Stu Cool
Look into a Flow-Kooler water pump. They move the water much faster than stock at low RPM then revert to normal flow above 2500-3000.

http://www.flowkooler.com/

I have one on the 350 in my Studebaker and it works great. Also add a shroud around your fan if you don't already have one.

Also, I had a 63 Nova with a small block 400 and I don't recall radiator to waterpump clearance being a problem. Are you using the short waterpump? You can also mount the radiator in front of the core support to gain clearance if you have to.

Hope this helps

Pat

You know I think I have a long pump on that BAD Boy, I need to check that out tonight. I'm running a 16" electric fan as a puller, do you guys think a dual electric fan enclosed in sheet metal would draw more air?
There is NO way I can mount a radiator in front of the rad. support with the grille, supports & lower valance there.

Originally posted by techinspector1
Sorry if my response was redundant, those other fellers answered while I was gettin' my answer together.

Hey ALL you fellers are giving me some great ideas and redundant answers are great ideas everyone is putting to this board.
So please keep them coming while I'm busy selling Fuel Injection systems in between my post.