New Radiator for 350?

[BigRed40]

I have a SBC that overheats severely. I have tried several different thermostats, flushed the system, water pump is working fine, dual electric fans (2000 cfm apiece). There is plenty of room between the engine and the firewall and I feel like there is plenty of airflow and coolant flow going on but it still boils over and gets up well over good operating temp. Is it time for a new radiator? That is what it seems like I need to do at this point. Any ideas?? All help and opinions are greatly appreciated. I appreciate the help guys.

Thanks,
Alex

Here is the Culprit!

 

[Alz Toy]

This worked for Me

I run the same motor, here's what seemed to work for me. When I got the truck, it had a flex fan, with a long spacer to get it closer to the rad, no shroud. Sounded like an airplane goin down the road. Tried the Taurus fan setup, worked ok, at best. Seemed to run ALL the time once up to temp. Read Texican's writeup on cooling, built a shroud, and got a BIG fan and clutch from a 1 ton Chev w/427 BB. Went back to a 195 thermostadt, which allows the water to stay in the rad a little longer, and cool b4 entering the motor agin. My motor's not stock, but just a few mods here and there. I can run down the hiway now, and it pretty much stays at 190-200. One thing I have read, where you put your temp sending unit will make a diff on what you see on the guage. Mines at the rear of the pass side head, so reads a little warmer. When first starting out, by the time I get to town ( 2.5 miles ). it'll spike up real high on the guage, untill the thermostadt opens, then settle at 190. HTH, Al

 

[350-78LandCruiser]

Big Red I'm right there with you. I'm replacing my radiator today. I bought mine from classic radiators on ebay. It's a drop in alum rad that fits in the u channel. I'm also installing a taurus fan on it.

 

[BigRed40]

Another thing is my 350 is putting out about 365hp so it gets super hot in a hurry and takes a long while to cool back down once it gets up there. The current radiator is old and even after flushing it appears to have buildup and junk inside so it should probably be replaced anyways. I think I will go with a new radiator and see if that does the trick. That with the dual electric fans should hopefully do it. If not, then you will be hearing back from me.

 

[kraeji]

I went with a larger aluminum radiator and it did the trick. My temps dropped from 230-240 down to 180-190

 

[70FRANKENCRUISER]

I run a 307 in my 69' with a new stock radiator (sor) and single elec fan and 190* thermostat. Seems to stay right at 190*. Sounds like you might need a new radiator, might just have to much crud in it.

 

[Bret]

You can fit a 27" radiator pretty easy, I've heard of folks fitting 31" in as well. May depend on how far back your motor sits. You will need a different radiator support but if it solves your heat issues then it would be worth it. With a warmed up 350 the more overkill the cooling system the better off you will be. I'm currently running a 383, hi-volume H2O pump, hi-flow thermostat (180'), MKVIII fan on 2 row 19X27 Al radiator from AFCO. (the tubes are 19"X22.5")
With just the electric fan set to turn on at 190' the temp rarely gets above 195', on the highway the temp sits on the thermostat. The down side with just the electric the floorboards got warm as did the tranny tunnel. I mounted a small flex fan to help move a little air and it helped alot. I may ditch the electric all together and get a bigger fan w/shroud and see how it does. I'm sure it will cool with no problems.
Is there a chance your motor is running a bit lean? That seems to make things a bit hotter too.

 

[marks69cruiser]

Any updates? I hope that new radiator helped out! I agree on the lean carb as well has caused me problems as well.

 

[BeratE]

Any recommended Aluminum radiators? I have a SBC too on my recently purchased rig and found that the welded on filler nozzle on the existing radiator is rusting inside. Definitely don't want all that crap flowing through the engine.

 

[BigRed40]

Yeah Bret it is a good possibility that it is.. It hasn't been tuned in quite a while since I haven't been able to drive it and when I bought it to trailer to my house it had been sitting for quite some time as well. That could definitely be adding to the problem. I really appreciate all the help and comments. Looks like a new radiator is next on my list (that is a mile long) of things to do. Any suggestions on radiator brand??

 

[Bret]

I have had good luck with my AFCO, but it is the only one I have laid hands on. It was right around $200 delivered. You can search a little and find a lot of mounting options. PM if you want and I can send some pictures.

 

[BeratE]

Wow, $200 delivered sounds really nice. I saw them on Summit for quite a bit more. Do you recall where you got yours?
Thanks

 

[ranger]

This has been covered greatly. If you do a search you will find a ton of information as well as everyones opinion on what works and what doesn't.
My best advice is, a stock radiator doesn't have the surface area need to properly cool a V-8.

 

[centerlineseal]

I cooled both a 283 and a 307 with a 2 barrel carb for years with the stock setup, but both were probably under 200 hp. I'm currently installing a ramjet 350, and based on my Mud searches, I intend to go with an aluminum aftermarket unit, using a mechanical fan with shroud. However, I would like to go with a unit that fits in the original u-channel. I have yet to determine if and where such a unit can be found. Any suggestions?

 

[spdwaver]

Wow, $200 delivered sounds really nice. I saw them on Summit for quite a bit more. Do you recall where you got yours?
Thanks

Try Radiator Barn, their heavy duty model. Temps went from 210 / 220 to 180 / 195 overnight.

That, and you can not beat the price.

Edit: Unless you have other issues causing it to overheat, Rad. Barn's setup is sufficient for my 327.

 

[BladeRunner80]

I bought my radiator from them too (Radiator Barn), good place to buy from. I run it with a tuarus fan and a SPAL fan control. Like what others have said, this issue has been discussed in great detail. From what I have seen, the key to cooling is a shroud, that's why I think the taurus fans works so well. The case around the fan fits the stock FJ40 radiator fairly well.

I went out wheeling a couple months ago and one of the guys was running pretty hot and eventually boiled over. He was running a 350, stock rad, mechanical fan and a basic shroud that wrapped around the radiator. We used duck tape to cover the face of the radiator (towards the fan and engine), leaving a small opening about the size of the diameter of the fan to pull air through and it kept his engine running around 190.

 

[lucky 13]

I intend to go with an aluminum aftermarket unit, using a mechanical fan with shroud. However, I would like to go with a unit that fits in the original u-channel. I have yet to determine if and where such a unit can be found. Any suggestions?

i bought mine from advanced adapters, and it was a complete drop in replacement and works perfectly.. but just as i said in other threads, if i was to do this again i would definatly toss out the original frame and order the largest radiator i could fit and fab something to mount it for about half the price of the drop in replacement.

but that is up to you.

 

[khaledster]

looked around in my dad's junk yard and found an 80s buick just sitting there, ripped out the rad, stuck it in my 40, with my ford elec. fan set up it worked fine, the only problems i had were electrical, the fan kept going off... planing on an Al rad and a taurus fan setup.... i'm running a stock 350SBC

 

[corbinwelter]

i run a 350 putting out 400hp, i run stock rad, no thermostat, flex a lite fan and easily gets to 100 degress here, i never get over 195 even in stop and go traffic