79 Cooling
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 46
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79 Cooling
Went to a 14 & 12 inch electric fan puller, no shroud and a 160 thermostat, got the radiator sealed. Still have the orginal radiator, I've been looking at some aluminum ones that say there direct replacement, but the length on my radiator is 32" and some advertised are 29 7/8, the height is the same. Anyway the car still runs hot, everything was fine until I went to the electric fan route and yes I do have a relay and thermostat screwed into the intake manifold. I'm willing to spend the money for a aluminum one if it would fix the over heat problem, if not I'd hate too go back to the mechanical fan, I can tell a difference in HP without the mechanical fan. Thanks for any input!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
Eckler's has a high flow water pump made by Stewart that will noticeably improve the cooling system, cost is about $80.00, make sure that you also get the high flow thermostat.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield Texas
Do You have a 3 row or 4 row original radiator? My 79 L48 Auto.
came from factory with a 3 row and nothing I did to it would make it
run less than 210-220. Finally put a DeWitts alum. direct fit rad. along
with an Edelbrock alum. high flow water pump and problem solved. Now
in this Texas heat with AC on it runs around 170-180 never higher
even idling at loooong traffic lights.
came from factory with a 3 row and nothing I did to it would make it
run less than 210-220. Finally put a DeWitts alum. direct fit rad. along
with an Edelbrock alum. high flow water pump and problem solved. Now
in this Texas heat with AC on it runs around 170-180 never higher
even idling at loooong traffic lights.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by Dukes79
Went to a 14 & 12 inch electric fan puller, no shroud and a 160 thermostat, got the radiator sealed. Still have the orginal radiator, I've been looking at some aluminum ones that say there direct replacement, but the length on my radiator is 32" and some advertised are 29 7/8, the height is the same. Anyway the car still runs hot, everything was fine until I went to the electric fan route and yes I do have a relay and thermostat screwed into the intake manifold. I'm willing to spend the money for a aluminum one if it would fix the over heat problem, if not I'd hate too go back to the mechanical fan, I can tell a difference in HP without the mechanical fan. Thanks for any input!My 78 will run 190 all day long...but its stock. I may be wrong but aren't the electric fans just supplemental in 79 so you still need a stock configuration to keep it cool like shroud and seals?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
My '79 runs at about 190-200, also when in traffic jams at higher (around 30C) outside temps. It used to be at 200-210, untill I flushed all the old cooling liquid and rinsed the block with water a few times. Then added only coolant, no water, and it ran at 190 from there on. About a month or two back I had headers installed and the temp raised to about 195-200, depending on outside temperatures. It has the stock radiator, fan-clutch and snorkel.
Is your airdam still okay? That thing under the nose is pretty important keeping your engine cool.
Is your airdam still okay? That thing under the nose is pretty important keeping your engine cool.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
How are your electric fans installed? Are they wired backward? Do they flow through the radiator well? Turn them on and throw a shop towel on the A/C condensor or radiator. If it doesn't stick well, then you have an airfow problem. The fans aren't sealing to the radiator.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
The stock 2 row rad is barely adequate to cool the thing to start with. With everything new it may have worked ok. An aluminum will fit, just be sure and get the correct one. The two fans should do a great job everything else being equal. Make sure your chin spoiler is in good shape, it doesn't have to be bent very much to misdirect the air away from the radiator.
