mopar777

have a question for all. what mixture are you all running for coolant?
since the rebuild and revamping ive noticed my cars running a little on the warm side, not nearly on the boilover side, but id like to perhaps cool it down if possible, im sure its a mixture of harsh driving manners and a setup thats more for a track rather than my street cruising,
running a big block 440, stock c body radiator, no thermostat and a premixed coolant.

any suggestions? thoughts?

78D200

I would think that you would want a 180*F thermostat and 50/50 mix. That is what I have always run and I never had any issues. How hot is it getting?

Archer

777-

440's will run hot and on the gas that's currently available, the stock radiator ain't gonna cut it - not in traffic anyway.

On a new/rebuilt motor, make sure all the water passages are clear.
Run a 160 degree thermostat
I use 1 gal of coolant (anti-freeze) and top it off with water.

Archer

440roadrunner

Never run an engine with no stat, and 160 is too cold, if you can still buy them, AND if something is marginal in the system, a 160 stat won't cool it down, anyhow

FIRST "is the gauge correct?"

SECOND just how warm IS it? You didn't say where you live or how warm the ambient temp is, and you didn't say just how hot the engine is getting?

You running a fan shroud? Stick a 190 stat it in, if it isn't puking out the cap, it's MOST probably OK.

If you are in a warm climate and don't need the antifreeze for freeze protection, run LESS than 50-50. Contrary to belief, antifreeze does NOT help heat transfer. If you choose to run much less antifreeze, use a rust inhibitor, and consider running "purified" water from the store for rust/ mineral protection.

Silverick

I bought an additive called "Water Wet". It's supposed to work, and take about 10 degrees out of the antifreeze/water mix. My 383 has a tendency to run warm on a warm day and the guy, at the speed shop where I bought it, says that it works. I haven't installed it yet but, today may be a good day for that! Rick

John Van

Water wetter is good stuff,run that and distilled water during the summer. Cools much better than 50/50 antifreeze,water.

67 GTX

Agree with "Never run an engine with no stat". That will actually make the engine run hotter.

160 is only too cold when the weather is below 60ish. Below that, the car will have trouble getting over 155.

I have to disagree with "a 160 stat won't cool it down, anyhow". My GTX came with a 195 thermostat, and the car normally ran around 190 in regular driving, and around 210 on the highway, and 225 in stop and go.
Once I replaced it with a 160, normal driving is 155-160. Highway is 180, and stop and go is never above 210.

Also, a stock radiator (26'') can work. If it is in good working order and all of the passages are clear, including the ones in the block, the stock rad. will work. That is what I have in my car. Having a fan shroud is a must also.

A 50/50 mixture is all I run.

I would only recommend an aluminum radiator is the engine is worked. If it is stockish, then you don't need it.

John Van

Here's a link with some interesting points:http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/14_...utomobiles.htm

MercuryDon

X2... I have used it with great results. Be sure to read the instruction as it works better with a lesser amount of Anti Freeze. So depending on where you live will determine the anti-freeze mix.

mopar777

wow thanks guys, never expected all the great help.
440roadrunner.
a little bit of backround info. i live in the suburban chicagoland area, car never sees winter and i dont drive it if its 90+ unless im feelin antsy.
stock radiator, c body fan shroud. full ported 906 heads with torquer single plane, 750 double pumper, lunati .550 lift with rough idle about an 11:1 compression, 727 reverse manual valvebody with a 4.56 8 3/4 in the rear. only accs. are alternator and power steering. my gauge might be a little ed but it runs about 200 in stop and go, i guess it would help if i knew a little bit more about vaporlock/boilover temp? when does this occur? its not puking coolant out so im not really worried, just seems like its a little harder to start when hot, need to pump more gas into it to fire, perhaps too much advance?
ill try the thermostat this weekend as well as a new fanspacer as my fan is not within correct distance of the shroud.


thanks for all the help guys!

Silverick

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Van
Water wetter is good stuff,run that and distilled water during the summer. Cools much better than 50/50 antifreeze,water.

X2... I have used it with great results. Be sure to read the instruction as it works better with a lesser amount of Anti Freeze. So depending on where you live will determine the anti-freeze mix.
__________________
Distilled water and just the Water Wetter or Distilled water, Antifreeze and Water Wetter? That's new to me but, I'll do that!
I live in the SF/Bay Area and the weather over here is sweet! We have about 10 days each year that it may get into the 90's. I'm going to take "Abigail" (my Fury) to a little show in Woodland, CA, at the beginning of June and then another in Sacramento, later that month. Could be in the 100s and I want to have her protected!

bremereric

One fact that I learned from an automotive gueru....run 50/50...and a 16 pound cap..that will raise the boiling point to 234 degrees...you will never puke over until you reach 234 degrees...He also said 220 degrees is the optimal engine operating temp...go figure...mine runs 210 degrees and never pukes over...that's in that Texas summer time heat