Overheating...considering DeWitt's or Be Cool
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Overheating...considering DeWitt's or Be Cool
My 71 with a stroked 400 sb with automatic runs under 210 until I put the ac on. Then it starts climbing. I use in the city during the summer only and need to find a cure. The radiator was recored about 4 years ago and everything else seems in order...timing, stat, fan clutch, shroud seals, etc.
I was thinking of going to an aluminum radiator (they are advertised to bring temp down 20 - 40 degrees, but didn't know which brand the forum recommends? Will aluminum alone help? Are fans overkill for my application? If using fans how much power do they draw?
Any help is appreciated.
I was thinking of going to an aluminum radiator (they are advertised to bring temp down 20 - 40 degrees, but didn't know which brand the forum recommends? Will aluminum alone help? Are fans overkill for my application? If using fans how much power do they draw?
Any help is appreciated.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: NorthRidge CA.
I'm also looking at Be-Cool or Dewitts, I was told to stay away from radiators with epoxy bonds such as Griffin and the cheaper ones, Be-cool and Dewitts DO NOT use epoxy and are priced about the same, how about a group purchase Dewitts???
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
maybe you should think about a trans cooler and an aluminum water pump and intake manifold. that should help in transferring heat also. try water wetter also it really works
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
maybe you should think about a trans cooler and an aluminum water pump and intake manifold. that should help in transferring heat also. try water wetter also it really works
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Southgate MI
never used it myself but here's a place
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/redline3.htm
LL&P
Tom1701
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/redline3.htm
LL&P
Tom1701
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
From: Flower Mound Texas
Paul - how does your car do at highway speeds? The reason I ask is I have a 400 also and it idles at 180 degress all day long, regardless of the outside temp, but then when I get on the highway it would run up to 240 at 70 mph and climb higher the faster I went. The problem is most likely that I don't have steam ports drilled in my heads, but I haven't confirmed. Regardless, I switched over to a DeWitts a few months ago and the temperature at highway speeds is now controlled regardless of the speed. Funny, now that I get the problem addressed, I'm going to pull the motor next weekend and sell it. The cycle continues...
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have DeWitts direct fit aluminum radiator in mine. Just like its name, it is a direct drop in radiator. No trying to get hoses that will fit. Your stock hoses fit just like they should. My car runs 180 on road no matter how fast I run and will only get up to a shade under 200 then the fans will kick on and cool it back to 180. Give Tom a call and tell him about your setup and he will fix you up. He is a supporting vendor/member.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
I went Aluminum....At the time I needed to buy on a strict budget. I passed on DeWitts (although thats what I wanted) and went with a 31x19 Universal fit NASCAR Griffin. For under $200 the fit was almost perfect. I did have to drill four small holes in the rad support to move the upper rad brackets but that it. My lower hose is stock and the upper is from a 68 Vette.
I added a tranny cooler at the same time.
Last weekend in 90 degree heat the temp never got above 180 in all driving conditions...highway, stop n go, etc.
So, for my total cost under $250 I feel I've definately gotten my money's worth.
In the future I will probably go with some Spial Fans but for now I'm set.
I added a tranny cooler at the same time.
Last weekend in 90 degree heat the temp never got above 180 in all driving conditions...highway, stop n go, etc.
So, for my total cost under $250 I feel I've definately gotten my money's worth.
In the future I will probably go with some Spial Fans but for now I'm set.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Be Cool and DeWitt's Direct Fit are both good. You won't find anybody complaining of either. I hear lots of people mention the Griffin epoxy bonds, but nobody seems to report any problems. Don't know myself...I've got the Direct Fit.
The dual Spals draw about 30 amps. I upgraded my alternator. Not sure if it's necessary for everyone, but with a MSD, Spals, and planned CD stereo, I figured I would be pushing the factory 65 amp alt a little too hard!
I've got a 180* stat and a 195* temp switch . My coolant temps never move outside those numbers even when driving hard (all-iron 427 in a 68). The fans are a little noisy compared to stock, but I don't notice it unless I'm standing outside the car when they are running.
The dual Spals draw about 30 amps. I upgraded my alternator. Not sure if it's necessary for everyone, but with a MSD, Spals, and planned CD stereo, I figured I would be pushing the factory 65 amp alt a little too hard!
I've got a 180* stat and a 195* temp switch . My coolant temps never move outside those numbers even when driving hard (all-iron 427 in a 68). The fans are a little noisy compared to stock, but I don't notice it unless I'm standing outside the car when they are running.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 119
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
I put BeCool in project RamJet. I was struggeling, as you are, between DeWitt and BeCool. At the time, BeCool had a special on the Kit price that included the Dual Spal fan setup. The BeCool setup has worked very well for me, but if I had it to do over, I would go with DeWitt. The BeCool design for mounting the Spal fans is absolutly crap. I had to weld the fan brackets to keep them from sliding left or right on the radiator. DeWitt has a much better design in that area. I called BeCool to give them a little constructive customer feedback but I think it fell on deaf ears.
Bullshark
Bullshark
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
DeWitt's and a Stewarts Stage II aluminium pump.. The best 850 bucks I ever spent.. Two years now and it's been put to the test... Usually runs 160 then if in traffic the thermostat opens at 180 and it sits there until I get moving then back down to 160... Dave...
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 669
Likes: 80
From: NE USA
DeWitts 
400 bux to keep your several thousand dollar engine cool is a steel. the fit is as advertised the service is as good. Just do it, I cant get my stroker to exceed 180 degrees sitting in a stuffy drive thru 100 out, traffic jam, whatever, it does not get hot. I had to remove the fan shroud extension when I installed the 5 speed and the temp never changed. I feel lucky that such a piece is available for our cars, take advantage of that!
400 bux to keep your several thousand dollar engine cool is a steel. the fit is as advertised the service is as good. Just do it, I cant get my stroker to exceed 180 degrees sitting in a stuffy drive thru 100 out, traffic jam, whatever, it does not get hot. I had to remove the fan shroud extension when I installed the 5 speed and the temp never changed. I feel lucky that such a piece is available for our cars, take advantage of that!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Originally Posted by C3w4sp
DeWitts
400 bux to keep your several thousand dollar engine cool is a steel. the fit is as advertised the service is as good. Just do it, I cant get my stroker to exceed 180 degrees sitting in a stuffy drive thru 100 out, traffic jam, whatever, it does not get hot. I had to remove the fan shroud extension when I installed the 5 speed and the temp never changed. I feel lucky that such a piece is available for our cars, take advantage of that!
400 bux to keep your several thousand dollar engine cool is a steel. the fit is as advertised the service is as good. Just do it, I cant get my stroker to exceed 180 degrees sitting in a stuffy drive thru 100 out, traffic jam, whatever, it does not get hot. I had to remove the fan shroud extension when I installed the 5 speed and the temp never changed. I feel lucky that such a piece is available for our cars, take advantage of that!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 669
Likes: 80
From: NE USA
just the radiator, I'm using the stock shroud and mechanical fan on the water pump. If you choose to go that way make sure you have rad / support seals in place to force the air through the rad rather than around it.
