cooling system help/opinions needed

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 28, 2002 | 05:24 PM

Ryan77

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 1,484

Likes: 0

From: Northampton Ma

cooling system help/opinions needed

This winter, if I have enough extra cash, I would like to redo my cooling system. I plan on installing a Be Cool aluminum radiator, an Edelbrock Victor Jr. series water pump, and an electric fan. My question is, is the Be Cool worth the money? It's $495, but they garauntee a 20 to 40 degree drop in coolant temp. Also, for those of you who have electric fans, what size and what kind did you get? I'm looking at a Perma-Cool 14" for $85, 9.5 amps, 2950 cfm. Last, how much modification is required to run an electric fan? Thanks again for your help.

Jul 28, 2002 | 05:59 PM

BB wowbagger

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 2,298

Likes: 1

From: Sodertalje/Sweden

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Ryan77)

I´m runnin`with a BeCool alu radiator,alu waterpump,mech fan and electric fan...180 termostat The car is constant 210 degrees...Its a Rat, so they run a little hotter than a Mouse..The radiator is very :cool: :cool: :cheers:

Jul 28, 2002 | 06:28 PM

Frankenvette

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 3,030

Likes: 17

From: White Pine / Dandridge TN

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Ryan77)

Unlike so many on this forum, I'm going say that if you have all the stock parts in proper working order, you should be able to run at the proper temp. I have an old 1970 350 in need of a rebuild yet I run at 180 degrees when its 95 degrees outside. I'm using the original 3 core radiator, standard water pump, 16" single electric fan and 180 degree thermostat. I have not had one single problem this summer with this basic setup. I replaced the radiator hoses and had the radiator professionally cleaned and tested. I don't see the need for a $500 radiator unless your are racing. Get the basic stuff working the way it was designed and you will be suprised.

I purchased my electric fan used for $50.00. Don't know the exact cfm but it works greats. I used a Painless Wiring harness with temp sensor that screws into the intake. Don't use the cheap wiring harness that has a little probe that fits between the radiator fins. Was a very easy project that cost a total of about $100.00.

Regards,

Jim

Jul 28, 2002 | 07:55 PM

Binnie77

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,841

Likes: 3

From: Halifax, NS, Canada

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Ryan77)

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but the thermostat has nothing to do with keeping an engine running cool. The thermostat is there to keep the engine warm and to make sure that your heater core will be hot enough to give you heat when you need it. An engine is going to reach its operating temperature anyway, regardless of what thermostat you have. If an engine is overheating, all that a lower temp thermostat will do is lengthen the time it will take for the engine to reach its max operating temp. Obviously, if a thermostat is bad and not opening, then you will have an overheating condition.

Jul 28, 2002 | 08:00 PM

Tom73

Race Director

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 15,136

Likes: 477

From: NM

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (BB wowbagger)

Quote:

I´m runnin`with a BeCool alu radiator,alu waterpump,mech fan and electric fan...180 termostat The car is constant 210 degrees...Its a Rat, so they run a little hotter than a Mouse.

Hummmm...on my big block I have all stock components, it normaly runs about 190, will get close to 210 in stop/go city traffic here during the summer (95+ degrees). Unless yours is highly moded out it does not appear to be cooling that good.

tom...

Jul 28, 2002 | 08:06 PM

Taijutsu

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,739

Likes: 37

From: Stockton Ca

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Ryan77)

Forget the High Buck Rad! A good stk Rad will do. Check rad seals, very important! Aftermarket waterpump is better but not required. The elect fan will make a big diff. Think about roller rockers, they worked for me. Also an extra oil cooler can help. It is easy to make the stk cooling system work w/o AC. The AC adds lots of heat. Don't depend on fans. The rad should be able to cool the engine by itself on freeway. This comes from Pres of Be Cool himself. My 4 core w/dual spals and extra oil cooler never goes over 200 on hottest days.

Jul 28, 2002 | 08:39 PM

Ryan77

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 1,484

Likes: 0

From: Northampton Ma

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Taijutsu)

As you can see by my signature, I'm in the process of building a very performance oriented car, I'll probably spend another $15,000 in performance, suspension, wheels, tires, and paint. I'm going for 450-500 horses after it's stroked to 383 and a few other goodies are being added also. To keep up with this high horse engine, I want the best cooling system I can get. Plus, my stock radiator looks like it's seen it's better days, and by going with an electric fan, I'm trying to gain a few horses over the clutch fan and save some weight (these car's aren't light).

Jul 28, 2002 | 09:29 PM

467-Ratman

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 1,002

Likes: 0

From: Bay City MI.

Re: cooling system help/opinions needed (Ryan77)

Ryan77, I am using a BeCool radiator with twin Spal fans on my Rat 467 motor. I just was in the BeCool car show this weekend and it was very hot here with high humidity. My car never went over 200 degrees with plenty of stop and go driving. The fans run and work very well, I also have a 160 stewart t\stat and stewart high flow water pump. You can allways spend less for a radiator, but I know the people and BeCool and also the engineers behind the scenes. There is no better product available then the combo of BeCool and Spal! If you need some help give them a call, ask for Fred or Roger they will help you. Good luck! :cool: :cool: