454
I run 100 anti freez in mine, jegs alm rad. and from warm up to burn out down the track to the pits it only gets to around 200 to 220 depending on the outside temp. Cools down pretty quick. Hope it helps. I dont have any spoiler, but even at speed I don't know how much that you cool you down. What temp are you wanting to get??

 

All of my BB Chevys which are several run under all conditions at the 180 temperature level. None of the stock factory cooling systems have been altered or changed. The HP levels range from a stock 73 El Camino to a LS7 68 Camaro. Some are VC equiped and others are not and two of the 6 are AC equiped also.

 

I'm not disagreeing w/you. Just a few guys from Cal who run motor cross told me they run 100* antifreeze. maybe I misunderstood but I went to 100* and it works fine? I did add water wetter also maybe that helped. I also lost the point of the thread and was suggesting a 180 or 160 stat because I though the problem was over heating. Sorry I was painting all day & taking breaks to read the forum.

 

original radiator, driving in florida summer never about 210, in traffic. this time of yr might hit 195
454 auto with 3'08's

 

Ok, then try diluting it and see if I'm right. I'll bet you drop 20 degrees

 

I am a bit surprised here. I didn't think that running 100% antifreeze was something that anybody thought was the right thing to do. Try reading the label on the antifreeze. You have a guy here that makes radiators for a living telling you 100% antifreeze does not cool as well as 50/50. Here is info from the Water wetter website:
see their page, lots of tech info:

http://www.redlineoil.com/whitePaper/17.pdf

And I will repeat myself: On a racetrack it is likely you will find drivers running 100% water (NOT 100% ANTIFREEZE), and the issue is not cooling, the issue is safety. Antifreeze is very slippery and they don't allow it on many racetracks!

Antifreeze also contains some antirust, anticorrosive (for aluminum) properties and lubricant properties that are important to preserving your radiator and waterpump. That is why 100% water is generally not recommended, but Water Wetter supposedly provides the anticorrossive and lubricant properties you need.

 

Anti-freeze is just that anti-freeze it's not a coolant....Thats a big lie told to the public...Originaly designed as an anti-freeze then they saw that it didn't sell in the summer so they also sold it as a coolant.....Just put anti-freeze in one pot then water in the other n watch that the anti-freeze boils first......As for my BB I run a 160 stat with one of Toms radiators filled with water wetter n water using a #210 fan n my temps hover around 175..........Jerrylee///

 

For the last 33 years, I've used nothing but pure ethylene glycol in the radiators of my cars.

People who put water in their radiators are people who, after several years, replace their radiators and replace their heater cores. They write posts to this forum asking information about replacing radiators, heater cores, information about radiator stop leaks, and information about coolant flushes. You don't have to be worried about all this stuff if you use pure ethylene glycol. You don't want water in your gasoline, in your brake fluid, and I'd suggest not in your coolant.

Another great advantage of ethylene is that your coolant system is not pressurised. Ethylene boils at about 265 degrees F so if you want, you can open your radiator cap without worrying about explosive steam shooting out.

I think the professional race cars use polypropylene glycol. It's boiling point is really high (300-400 degrees F) and also it's not toxic. Ethylene glycol is very poisonous if ingested (it tastes sweet). Poly tasts sweet also, but is not poisonous. If fact Poly is a common food ingredient! I'v heard that ethylene is banned in Switzerland and people there have to use poly.

Ethylene doesn't have the heat transfer characteristics of water. Some cars are going to need water (C3 big blocks with air and copper radiators). If you can drive your car without water you're going to save yourself a lot of corrosion problems.

As far as I know, all the WWII liquid cooled fighter planes (P51's, spitfires, P38;s, etc) all used pure ethylene. It's not a new idea.

 

Redline claims that there water wetter provides a excellent corrosion inhibitor when added to water or a glycol solution....

 

But, this point is cruical. When it comes to vettes most will need water instead of some .

 

My stock 69 BB 427/390 runs between 200 to 210. When sitting in traffic on a hot day it might approach 220. I am using a 50/50 mix.

 

I know this is key w/ mid years as well. I rarely exceed 200F even idling in summer. I do run 100% water w/ 2 bottles of Prestone corrosion inhibitor in the summer, and switch to 50/50 in the fall.

I've previously used Redline Water Wetter in both 100% water and 50/50, but upon dissasembly I found red gooey deposits in and around the thermostat housing and coolant passages.

Mark

 

That is exactly the point and I'd go as far to define most =99%

If anyone has a cooling system so robust that it works with straight coolant, then go for it. I just don't know anyone.

As far as water causing problems, it won't if you follow the directions. The inhibitor package that is built into the coolants will die out and stop protecting the metals. That's why they put a life term on these thing. IE 2 year or 5 years. If you use distilled water at 50/50 and change it every 24 months (regardless of color) you will never replace the radiator. The problem is, we simply don't do that. Everyone one of us has openned that cap, saw green, and put the cap back on thinking the stuff was still good. I have milk in my frig from last year and it's still white.

 

 

WOW!! Thanks for all the info guys! I think I have determined a couple of my problems.
1. I am running to high a stat.
2. I need to get my spoiler installed before worrying about it to much.

Thanks for all the input.

BR

 

This is exactly what I do. My motor might hit 200 degrees in traffic at a stand still but for the most part is in the 190 range

 

Hey Bence, How you doing? Nice to see you back on the forum.

[sorry for the thread hijack]

Mark