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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Big block cooling help
Well what I have is a 1963 c30 tow truck , with a 427 tall deck stuffed under the hood , I also have A/C ...I am running a NOS harrison 3 core radiator with 16 psi cap, new heavy duty clutch fan , with I think a 7 blade fan , on say an 85 degree day it will want to will run up in the 215-220 range without boiling over , if she is left PTO engaged , and A/C on for over 5 min , she starts puking , so my thought is not enough radiator , and I think I am right , I have thought of trying to find a 4 core as I know they used to make one for our trucks , but a friend brought up the aluminium radiator idea , does anyone have any advice here , I have never fooled with an aluminium radiator on anything this old , everything now days is , I have seen some good deals on them on ebay , any horror stories on the ebay rads ? I would think it would be hard for manufacturing quality processes to really effect cooling , fit , finish , and maybe a leak when you put it on the truck maybe , I am looking to cool this beast down , if it over cools at this point I would be happy , as this truck has the holmes 500 split boom bed on it , and I don't use it daily , but it really is useful when someone plants their car in a crazy place , and I want it to be able to fast idle for 20-30 min without my horn blowing (over heat/oil pressure warning modual) or antifreeze puking everywhere , as the cops seem to get pissed over that
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: sparta tennessee
Posts: 345
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Re: Big block cooling help
Do you have a schroud?? If not that is your problem
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1946 car hauler 1948 surburban 1937 chevy sedan 1940 olds sedan (project) 1967 ss396 chevelle 1999 dually crewcab(24000 miles) |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 80
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Re: Big block cooling help
I've got an aluminum radiator from Champion in my 65 with a 454, no shroud (yet), with a clutch fan and in Las Vegas traffic on a 110 degree day, it crept up to 210 degrees. The radiator model I got is rated to disipate heat for up to 600 horsepower.
I'm in the process of installing air conditioning and will be adding a fan shroud. Hopefully that will be up and running this weekend and we'll see how well it does then.
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65 C20 Fleetside longbed, 350, turbo 400, 8-lug disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning - Totaled by a guy running a red light. Pulling parts off the carcass for my next truck |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
Quote:
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 80
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Re: Big block cooling help
Quote:
Here is where I got mine from: http://www.championradiators.com/Che...ator-1963-1966 When I ordered it, the first radiator that came wasn't the 3 core, and I called them back and they sent out the proper one right away, and I haven't had any other problems with it.
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65 C20 Fleetside longbed, 350, turbo 400, 8-lug disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning - Totaled by a guy running a red light. Pulling parts off the carcass for my next truck |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 80
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Re: Big block cooling help
Also, even though the temp has reached 117 here, my truck has yet to overheat or boil over.
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65 C20 Fleetside longbed, 350, turbo 400, 8-lug disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning - Totaled by a guy running a red light. Pulling parts off the carcass for my next truck |
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#9 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Olean, NY
Posts: 92
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Re: Big block cooling help
In my big block cooling experience you have 2 options:
-A dual row 1" tube aluminum radiator. Be careful there is alot of junk out there. You are taking your chances with cheap chinese ones. Buy only from a reputable American manufacturer. Definitely not this one: http://www.speedcooling.com/1963-196...r/prod_37.html This may be a good option: http://rndfabrication.com/CrossflowRadiators.html The other option is a 4 core factory type radiator. After learning from my mistakes on buying a cheap foriegn aluminum radiator I decided to go with the 4 core I already had. My local radiator guy cleaned and tested it for me. He says it's the best you can get.
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Olean, NY
Posts: 92
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Re: Big block cooling help
Well, It looked like a good radiator. I did the work to modify the mounts and attached a shroud / dual electric fan setup only to find that the brand new radiator leaked when I used it for the first time. The outfit that sold it to me would not respond when I wanted it replaced under their "two year warranty"
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Rathdrum ID
Posts: 1,128
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Re: Big block cooling help
4 core aluminum and dual electric fans along with the 7 blade fan should do it. With the PTO and AC going that combo should keep it cool.
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66 shorty ![]() |
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#13 |
60-66 Nut
![]() ![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Posts: 23,247
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Re: Big block cooling help
Regardless which radiator you use, a proper fan shroud will make a noticeable difference.
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Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
my shroud is homemade , but it is correct in function , yes they make a big difference , as when I stuffed the engine in the truck , it tried to over heat , because I just had to take a little drive with it and a few other things missing , I did at least put the hood back on before I drove it ...this time , you know how it is , you just can't wait , even though you know better lol us boys , and our toys ...
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#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Olean, NY
Posts: 92
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Re: Big block cooling help
I was also told by an expert that if you are going to hook anything to the bumper you need a mechanical fan preferably with a clutch. Is there a reason for the 195 degree thermostat? A 180 may help a little.
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#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: jonesborough tn.
Posts: 88
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Re: Big block cooling help
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: Big block cooling help
My '66 came with a brand new cheap aluminum radiator. It lasted about 100 miles before I came out of work and there was a big puddle under it. I put in a $200 PRC radiator for a stock car, mostly so I could fix it right away for cheap and also because I know it's a very good radiator. I have used at least twenty of them in hotrods with 100% success.
To keep heat down at idle (and get good mileage) you want to run a bunch of timing when there is no load on the engine. Assuming you are not running a computer controlled ignition, that means a vac advance distributor and properly leaned out mixture (>13:1) at low loads. There is a reason factory vehicles did come with vac advance and didn't overheat. |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: shellman bluff,ga
Posts: 250
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Re: Big block cooling help
my local radiartor shop made mine a 4 core.it has always run around 180.i made a half shroud mostly for safety.i run a clutch fan on my 454 in a 1963 gmc suburban and now it runs a little warmer in traffic
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#19 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Co
Posts: 412
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Re: Big block cooling help
Do you have a large enough puke tank?
Any radiator will puke when the coolant expands
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63 k20 with cummins 4bt, owned sence 1982 |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Williams, CA
Posts: 760
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Re: Big block cooling help
I'm pretty sure rndfabrication is a member on here. I believe we get a discount through him in addition to some serious looking radiators.
His username is SparkyRnD
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Jeff 96 C3500 Crew Cab Long bed (Waiting on Cool Name) 64 C-10 shortie stepside, "Ole Brownie" C-10 Club My achingly slow build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=508345 |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: mid ga
Posts: 553
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Re: Big block cooling help
I was have cooling troubles with my bbc even with an aluminum radiator with 2 10" fans. I ended up going to pull a part and getting a fan of a lincoln and problem solved,I even had to put the thermostat back in to keep temp in engine.some time and about 20 bucks fixed my problem.
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check out SANFORD build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522019 |
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#22 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: acworth georgia
Posts: 890
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Re: Big block cooling help
Yep, we are a vendor on here and we do offer discounts to members. For dual 10" fans, those are definitely too small for what you have. Dual 12's would be the minimum I would run for a big block, preferably a single 16 or 17, with dual speeds if possible.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: fayetteville nc
Posts: 10,338
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Re: Big block cooling help
Sparky...help educate me on the dual speed fans....I'm an old school mechanical fan guy and am interested in possibly going electric for my big block swap if I have any clearance issues.
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1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: vancouver b.c....is the biggest place most people would know but I am actually out in the valley 45 mins away
Posts: 2,050
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Re: Big block cooling help
Well...If it was me I would run a aluminum rad 2 or 3 core .....with a shroud and electic fan. I have several of these combo's with strocker engines making 650 HP and never have problems. The new style rads have less cores but are the same thickness and give more cooling....it used to be cores decided how thick the rad is now it's thickness with as few cores as possible. I am a big believer in shrouds and pulling eletric fans....
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1966 Pro street build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...?t=448089[ 1958 LS 2 build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=527123 1966 SBFS low and go http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=5799909 1966 SBFS street HULK http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post5886625 Poject Low and go gets a 6.2 ltr LSA supercharged with 6 speed automatic Aluinum Radiator Dealer pm for details |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: Big block cooling help
Me too. There are about 60 million cars built every year with the same setup. It must work well.
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Daily Driver '66 C10 Fleetside Short Bed - LS swap - 4L80E - Accuair eLevel |
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