TheIgnitious

So I recently replaced my original radiator with a 3 core aluminum racing radiator with dual fans. I did this because when I turned ac on in a parking lot the car would overheat. It's still overheating, but slower now. (With ac off!!!) Idk what to do anymore I've tried everything. I have 3 small holes drilled in thermostat to keep constant flow, the car is a Tx car so it's about 100 down here during the day, soon to be hotter. Any ideas? I have the bottom piece that directs air into the radiator off an 85 v6 car (I thought it would direct more air to it, covers up parts that would normally blow out.) it has no fan shroud, but obviously dual fans. The only thing I can think of is to remove aftermarket small tranny cooler to give more flow but it really isn't blocking all that much.. I'm getting really annoyed to where I just want to delete ac but after $500 that's not so easy. What do I do guys?? Please help me.

joshc

iTrader: (1)

Are the fans mounted close enough to the rad to pull the air through it? If they are much more than 1/2 inch away from the rad it won't actually pull much air through the rad.

Another thing to check is your timing, if it is off, the engine will run hot no matter what else you do.

TheIgnitious

They are mounted directly to the rad. They have those funky little plastic pins that go through it. Anyways, I took a timing gun to it and I think it was dead on, I forgot if I bumped it up a little up or down because of carb. But it may be dead on I'll be sure to check. I just did more research on thirdgen do you think a 160 thermostat would be better than my 180? And if so should I also drill it? I have a Hayden dual fan controller so my fans kick on around 235 and off I think at 175? I've thought about deleting the relay (bad relay and broke 1st day testing radiator) and just running the fans to a wire that gets hot when ignition on. Would this keep my problem down more? And what of the tranny cooler, does it also put off heat enough to disturb radiator?

Reason I mention 160 thermostat is because my car is nowhere near stock, 305 with .460 lift and a whole mess of other stuff. I know a lot of people on here kind of give it the cold shoulder, but whenever I'm only getting 6-10 mpg I only care about what's gonna keep it safe on this old block.

TheIgnitious

THINK I FOUND THE PROBLEM. Went looking for bad connectors today because relay wasn't getting switched power. Yeah, this piece of **** wiring just melted a 1/4 of my wiring. Don't buy Hayden! Anyone got a good dual fan wiring provider?

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

You 'NEED THE FAN SHROUDS" and the lower air dam. Without it, sitting running will just make it overheat. Been there, done that!

jimdutro

iTrader: (1)

What do you mean by "overheating"? Is the stock gauge in the red or is the radiator boiling over or ?

TheIgnitious

Fan shrouds by the aluminum shroud that covers the whole radiator except fans? I've seen them but they seem kind of restricting to me..., but I have air dam. Also I bought new relay and reran the controller through a switch in the cab and they seem to be pulling more air

---and I may be willing to build one, they seem super easy to do.

TheIgnitious

It's an old gauge but not GM, but since my 350 blew up from overheating I let it hit 250 ish and turned her off. No boilin over, not going to let it, but yes it would have.

Also would this 160 thermostat work????? Because I'm thinking these 3 holes are too much flow to it and maybe not allowing enough time for radiator to cool it. I can't say I watch a drop in temp when thermostat kicks in or should I try another 180

paulo57509

If it's overheating with a 180-degree thermostat, it will still overheat with a 160-degree thermostat. It might just take a little longer to do so.

Bigfoottpi11

Why are your fan temps set to 235 with a 180 thermostat? Should set fan to come on at 190-195 and off at about 188

TheIgnitious

But my thoughts are to stuff a new 180 with no holes or tiny holes in it. I think it's getting too much flow and not enough time for radiator to cool. For example i shut the car off for about 2 mins at 250 and left the fans on. (Left it in acc to watch temp) I then cranked car again and when thermostat kicked in it hit almost 235

TheIgnitious

It was the $30 fan controller I bought. I bypassed it to a switch in the cab though. Fans come on whenever I flip them on