What Radiator/Cooling System for V8?

[maxdog51]

What Radiator are you guys running in your trucks with the V8 swap? The original radiator is a low pressure open system with no reservoir. That's not working very well for me. Any helpful advise would be great.

[mr48chev]

You have to run those with the coolant a couple of inches down from the filler so you have room for expansion. A lot of guys tend to over fill them and loose coolant.

Other than that there are plenty of options from running a big truck (1-1/2 ton or bigger) radiator like I did for a lot of years to running one of the welded aluminum ones on up to a Walker.

[arturo7]

Is there a way to determine the proper radiator capacity based on the motor specs?

[dwcsr]

Not sure what you mean by open system but open systems haven't been used since the model T. If it has a Tstat and a pressure cap its a closed system.

You can use your stock radiator with a newer style pressure cap that bleeds back when cold and for an over flow system attach a tank to it. Its saves you a $400.

I run a 450 hp big block on a stock 6 cylinder radiator so it does work without over heating.

[mr48chev]

In answer to Arturo7

I've always subscribed to the theory that the larger the cooling capacity the better. It isn't always the largest volume that it will contain but the most efficient it is able to function. No engine has ever been damaged because the vehicle's cooling system had too much cooling capacity.

Then you have to add in what fan you run as that tends to make a big difference. I ran a rather small and flat flex fan on the 250 in my 48 because of clearance issues and it didn't pull enough air to write home about. While the temp hovered just above the thermostat rating most of the time on the road it crept up a bit high in slow traffic on hot days dropping right back down as soon as the truck got moving a bit. That's with 120 louvers in the hood to let hot air out.

[Trekster]

I am running the original radiator with a 350. It seems to work fine. I have ran an aluminum aftermarket radiator but after 2 of them leaked I gave up and went back to the original.

[maxdog51]

Thanks for the good advice guys. I guess I've used the wrong terminology describing the cooling system. I will try using a newer pressure style cap, a little less coolant/water and set up an overflow tank.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by maxdog51

Thanks for the good advice guys. I guess I've used the wrong terminology describing the cooling system. I will try using a newer pressure style cap, a little less coolant/water and set up an overflow tank.

If your using a cap with a over flow bottle then you want to have the radiator full to the top that way it will flow back and forth and it maintains the correct pressure to keep the coolant below boiling. You only leave a void in the tank if you use no bottle.

[Hot Rod Todd]

We have a mid 90s Chev 350 pickup engine in our 48. We put a 13lb cap on the radiator and the radiator leaked big time. So got radiator repaired and went to a 7lb cap. Truck runs at 180 all day, up hill and down, city or country.

We have an electric fan on the grill side of the radiator, which Im told by my radiator shop mate, is nowhere near as effective as on on the engine side. (it was set up by another radiator shop)

[S10Fan]

Stock 307 in my 50 with a Speedway aluminum radiator, 12" electric fan, 170 degree T-stat, runs at 170 all day everyday.

[maxdog51]

Thanks for the heads up on the 13lb cap. I think I will start with a 7lb cap as well.

[maxdog51]

I finally got the old beast out of the garage on Sunday. Heres a short vid my daughter took.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luZDq...ature=youtu.be

[Maximus]

congrats on gettin it moving! I know the feeling as my truck first drove on its own/registered this year - 9 years after purchase As for the radiator, I have a 400 CI engine so I wanted insurance, it wasnt cheap but i feel that Griffin makes some of the best aftermarket aluminum radiators out there. they had a model for the 55-57 trucks, not sure about other years...

[meter swinger]

Stock 6cyl radiator in mine with a 327. It handles the temp without any issues.
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[mknittle]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Not sure what you mean by open system but open systems haven't been used since the model T. If it has a Tstat and a pressure cap its a closed system.

You can use your stock radiator with a newer style pressure cap that bleeds back when cold and for an over flow system attach a tank to it. Its saves you a $400.

I run a 450 hp big block on a stock 6 cylinder radiator so it does work without over heating.

Yeah, but It never gets hot where you live