Prepping for a BBC conversion

[87Lowrider]

Just about ready for the road.

Installed Electic fan from previous thread... adapted it to the factory shroud. Works great.




A few more steps before she's road worthy, and then, off to the paint booth for Hot Rod Black.

[andresco50]

Good job man looks awesome congrats!!! upload a video to listen that
monster

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by andresco50

Good job man looks awesome congrats!!! upload a video to listen that
monster

Thanks - Going to the muffler shop this week, afterwards, I'll post a video of the engine running.

Kenny

[joeymarkgraf]

Nice work, can't wait to see the video!

[84 400]

that is turning out real good.

[87Lowrider]

Finally,

After much anticipation, I got the lowrider out for her maiden voyage! (Just around the block)

Motor sounds great... still need exhaust though but, gosh, what a strong sounding motor to be just over stock. The Comp Cams XE cam is really thumpin'.

I believe the rockers are a bit too tight cause I've got a wicked squeal. I backed them off a 1/4 turn to get the oil flowing and help the squeal but I think I need to go a little bit further. Gonna do that tomorrow and pull it in my neighbors garage for sanding and RAT ROD Black paint.

I'll post a vid of the motor running when I get the bugs worked out. Can't wait to get her out to a cruiz-in. /Ken

[87Lowrider]

Here's a short little vid of the engine running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJNDRFIfsc&feature...

Here's the engine after I installed new accessories on it:


Here's the dash after I installed the new cluster



Ken

[87Lowrider]

I can't seem to keep the engine cool. I have the original BBC radiator in the truck. I put a 165 degree thermostat in to keep the engine a bit cooler than 200 - 205 degrees when cruizing around. Today, I noticed a leak coming from the radiator in the area of a seam.

I'm thinking of replacing the radiator with one of those "Be Cool" kits with the fans already included. They advertise about 40 degree drop in temp over stock.

Their specs also say the radiator is a "Dual Core" radiator... I thought BBC's all were kept cooler with 4 core radiators... did something change?

Anyone have any thoughs on 'em??

Thanks!


Kenny

[Alex1]

The BeCools are much bettehr than the factory 4 core. More cores do not necessarily mean better cooling. Also I wouls look at that electric fan -I'm a firm beleiver that you need an honest 4000+ cfm outfit to 'em down.

[Captkaos]

Be Cool uses Aluminum radiators, their I believe is 1" aluminum cores which are more efficient than the traditional 4 core. My only thoughts are they are expensive.

I just picked up a Proliance 2 row aluminum for my 87 that went bad. I got it a lot larger since it is going to receive the 6.0L transplant. It required mods to the brackets to make it fit which I plan to make some new ones later, and the factory shroud won't fit, but I plan to order a Flex-a-lite or Perma-Cool electric setup for it. It was $170 locally. It is aluminum with plastic tanks.

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Be Cool uses Aluminum radiators, their I believe is 1" aluminum cores which are more efficient than the traditional 4 core. My only thoughts are they are expensive.

I just picked up a Proliance 2 row aluminum for my 87 that went bad. I got it a lot larger since it is going to receive the 6.0L transplant. It required mods to the brackets to make it fit which I plan to make some new ones later, and the factory shroud won't fit, but I plan to order a Flex-a-lite or Perma-Cool electric setup for it. It was $170 locally. It is aluminum with plastic tanks.

Are you dryin' out down there yet?

Today, I ordered the BeCool 62013. It's a dual row aluminum one. No fans yet since I have that big honkin' electric fan on there already... I may have to order the fan kit for it cause I don't know if it pulls the over 4000 cfm mentioned earlier or get that Flex-a-lite or Perma-Cool setup myself. That's a bunch cheaper than the BeCool fan setup.

Kenny

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by 87Lowrider

Are you dryin' out down there yet?

Hahahaha. Not yet. It pretty much has been raining CONSTANTLY since Friday of last week. I really wish it would stop.

I am either going to buy one of those listed, or build my own. If I can make them easy enough so they bolt in, I may start selling them.

I don't have any feedback on the Perma-Cools, but they mount in the factory holes, which I like, and they move 5900cfm..

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Hahahaha. Not yet. It pretty much has been raining CONSTANTLY since Friday of last week. I really wish it would stop.

I am either going to buy one of those listed, or build my own. If I can make them easy enough so they bolt in, I may start selling them.

I don't have any feedback on the Perma-Cools, but they mount in the factory holes, which I like, and they move 5900cfm..

We came through bham Friday on the way to pensacola... we're down here for the weekend enjoying the beach and the holiday off!

Here's a pic from my iphone


When I get back next week, the radiator is waiting for me. The truck is at the shop with a newly rebuilt TH400 in it.

I'll pick it up when I get back and put the radiator in and try my fan... if it doesn't cool well enough, I'll get one of those perma-cools or maybe the overpriced be-cool fan kit. I don't think it pulls more than 2500cfm though.

Kenny

[Captkaos]

And you didn't drop by? Look pretty calm from the pic.

The Flex-a-lite is 4900 cfm' and variable speed.

[chevy2ss]

New guy here but before you spend all that money on an expensive fan...get a fan out of a 3.8 liter ford taurus. It has to be out of a 3.8 tho. Hook it up to the high side only and you won't have any cooling issues.

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

And you didn't drop by? Look pretty calm from the pic.

The Flex-a-lite is 4900 cfm' and variable speed.

We were stuck in all of that "panic" traffic all the way through montgomery and into Bham. I didn't even think of it. Man, those people from LA, MS and "Some" from AL sure can't drive.

We left out Monday morning right after they closed the beaches in Pensacola. It was getting pretty nasty. Sounds like it's gonna be a very active Sept for you guys.

If my fan and shroud won't adapt, do you sell all the brackets, shrouds, etc.. to get it put on that be-cool radiator?

Kenny

[87Lowrider]

Well, here's the radiator. It's a Be-Cool that I got from Summit.



Is it necessary to put some type of additive in it or the normal antifreeze / water combo ok? Be cool recommended some type of snake oil with the purchase but I'm a sceptic.


Kenny

[d10s69c10]

looks Awesome.. love the transformation. engine looks amazing dash really looks great also. hope all keeps going well.

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by chevy2ss

New guy here but before you spend all that money on an expensive fan...get a fan out of a 3.8 liter ford taurus. It has to be out of a 3.8 tho. Hook it up to the high side only and you won't have any cooling issues.

A while back, I was reading one of the threads here and someone had came up with an idea to install a Chrysler fan from a Jeep from a recall.

I'd have to find the thread, but the short of it was that it would mount to the factory shroud, which it did, and if you added a thermo relay it would work great. So, I did it. Problem was, the radiator leaks and won't cool properly so I never really got to see if the fan worked.

If everything mounts up to this be-cool, and works, I'll be good, if not, I'll have to find another fan solution.


Kenny

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by d10s69c10

looks Awesome.. love the transformation. engine looks amazing dash really looks great also. hope all keeps going well.

Thank you! - Now, if I could only start driving it and enjoying it... I may bring it back to Pensacola in the spring!!!

ROAD TRIP!

Kenny

[Captkaos]

No biggie, just giving you are hard time... And yeah, people in Alabama can't drive. If it was really raining, it would be worthwhile to bypass AL altogether...

I don't look forward to this season at all...

If it is the be-cool replacement and it is the same size as you existing, all you original stuff should fit.

Right now I don't have any of the pieces but some guys on my forum are requesting we design/build/sell a drop in electric fan solution for the 73-87's.

Originally Posted by 87Lowrider

We were stuck in all of that "panic" traffic all the way through montgomery and into Bham. I didn't even think of it. Man, those people from LA, MS and "Some" from AL sure can't drive.

We left out Monday morning right after they closed the beaches in Pensacola. It was getting pretty nasty. Sounds like it's gonna be a very active Sept for you guys.

If my fan and shroud won't adapt, do you sell all the brackets, shrouds, etc.. to get it put on that be-cool radiator?

Kenny

[87Lowrider]

I have it home today... letting it cool down a bit before I start pulling out the radiator. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

[87Lowrider]

OK.. I got the old radiator out and the new one mocked up.



I used the standard upper brackets for the original 350 that was in the truck before I switched out the original radiator for the radiator that came wth the 454. They mounted perfectly to the tops of the radiator. To get the radiator mounted flush to the support, I had to remove 2 screws that hold the top of the AC condensor in place. It's still secure though.



Problem was, my existing electric fan wouldn't fit snug enough to the radiator to funnel the air flow correctly without pulling it in from the sides and top so I ordered the Flex a Lite dual fan (220) dual 12" pullers rated at 2600 cfm. They only need 2.6" of clearance and I have about 6" so I'm good. Hopefully that will be enough to keep her cool. I already have the relay in place to control fan operations.

[COMP]

looking great Kenny

[SSC's76]

Looks killer!