A Cool...ing Lesson.
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A Cool...ing Lesson.
Posted: June 09 2008 02:34 PM
 
Dave Wager (aka blksheep) [ View ] [ ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Charlotte, North Carolina
(704) 779-2054
 
This past Saturday, we had a killer 100 degree plus afternoon that took us well on into the evening. Not EVER having cooling issues with the Party Wagon, Bopeep and me headed out on our twice a month, 150 mile round trip cruise-in spot in Lenoir, N.C. Of course, I've got the A/C cranked full on and enjoying the 65/70 degree inside of the wagon. A major portion of the trip includes a 4 lane with the average speed taking us up to 75mph plus. Now at 75, a glance at the temp gauge shows our 355 sbc at 220 degrees. Thats pretty hot for our ride as it normally runs at 180/190 around town. I started playing around with the throttle and watched the gauge drop to 215 at 70, 210 at 65 and a comfy 205 at 60 mph. Remember, it's 100/105 degrees outside. The only answer I can come up with is the radiator (2 core) capacity just wasn't enough to handle those temps. The water pump is a new GM long neck unit I took off my now sold Ram Jet. Any suggestions.......???


blksheep...in Charlotte
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by 3340  -  06/09/2008 02:39 PM
Dave, Maybee Low Coolant?
wayne ludwig [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Toledo, Ohio Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by REBORN55  -  06/09/2008 02:42 PM
may have some blockage in radiator--would opt for different radiator.
Ken [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] De soto, Illinois
 
Posted by 31tudor  -  06/09/2008 02:45 PM
Water pump spinning too fast? Pushing the coolant through the radiator faster than it can cool?


Goes right back to what you said, two core may not be enough capacity.
Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002
 
Posted by 30 A pickup  -  06/09/2008 03:24 PM
blksheep, You should have come to Inman S.C. for our show. It was only 99 degrees!


Lynn
30 A pickup [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Cowpens, South Carolina
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  06/09/2008 03:36 PM
what carb ? sounds like a leaning out problem to me. or a vac leak.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Starfire  -  06/09/2008 05:43 PM
And Pandora's Box is opened again. Seems I recall more than one thread on this same type of subject.

Shine's suspicion about the carb is probably correct. Especially when you consider the problem seemed to abate with a reduction of speed. In the most simple of terms you may have too much carburetor for the engine, especially when the back barrels open up, typically around 62-65 mph. This can also be a combination of timing issues and carb. What is likely happening is when those back barrels open up a lot of unburned fuel is entering the exhaust manifold and is burning there, increasing the head temperature. I'll bet if it had been pitch dark and you looked under the hood the manifolds and exhaust pipe would have been cherry red (not good). If the temperature sensor is in one of the heads verses the intake manifold the reading will be quite high due to the after burning of fuel in the manifold.

Notwithstanding a possibly defective thermostat or too little fan pull (check that fan clutch) sounds like it's time for a "base" timing check and possibly a lesser CFM carburetor. With anything over 600 cfm on your engine there will always be a risk of too much fuel is entering the intake and the excess being burned in the exhaust.

While not common, the elevated temperature could also be related to transmission cooling problems assuming you are running an automatic.
Starfire [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Weimar, Texas
 
Posted by gman0046  -  06/09/2008 05:43 PM
How about a shroud? Do you have one? I wouldn't be too concerned about 205 with 100+ outside air temperature. The more I think about it, the more I see wagons the more I want one.
gman0046 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Anchorage, Kentucky
 
Posted by Red's Place Custom & Restoration  -  06/09/2008 06:33 PM
Hey Dave give me a call I can get you an aluminum radiator built for that puppy and those radiator problems will never come again, also if you were to add an engine oil cooler your temp will drop a good 20 degress. I'll be in the shop all day tomorrow RED
Red's Place Custom & Restoration [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Charlotte, North Carolina
 
Posted by blksheep  -  06/09/2008 06:48 PM
Just to give you an idea how the Party Wagon is equipped; 355 sbc, 9.4 compression ratio, '72 rebuilt stock heads new valves/springs, intake port matched, mild pocket porting, 600 Edelbrock carb, performer cam and intake, 18" steady vacuum at idle, timing spot on, plugs burn lt. chocolate brown, HEI ignition, new 180 degree thermostat, Raptor 700R4 stage 3 trans, 2400 stall, 3:73 12 bolt posi, Trans temp runs 150/180 degrees, Flex-a-lite 13 1/2" schrouded dual fans, (4600 cfm). Under dash gauges are new, 2 5/8" units, vacuum, water temp, volts, oil pressure (60lbs. idle) and trans temp. I mounted the water temp sender unit in the head between the #6 and #8 cylinder. The capalarie tube has plenty of header clearance. The rad was flushed and I cleaned and straighted all the fins last year. Condenser too. Hoses are new. Coolant level is always full in the coolant bottle and rad is full. I think, given the 100 degree temp outside, the water pump cycled the coolant through the rad too quickly at higher RPMs. Now don't get me wrong. I think, again, given the heat outside, it's running pretty good. Even 220 ain't all that bad with the 100 degree weather and the A/C cranked on full. What Y'All think??

blksheep...in Charlotte
blksheep [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Charlotte, North Carolina
 
Posted by OGS41  -  06/09/2008 07:27 PM
MY EXPERINCE HAS BEEN - IF IT STAYS WITHIN THERMOSTAT TEMP OR MAYBE 10 DEGREESS OVER ON A HOT DAY THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVE MOST OF THE BASICS IN ORDER ESP IF IT CAN TOLERATE BUMPER TO BUMPER CONDITIONS /EXTENDED IDLING. IF IT CLIMBS 25-30 DEGREES OR MORE ON LONG HILLS OR HIGHER HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SEEM FINE OTHERWISE THEN LOOK FOR RADIATOR OBSTRUCTION OR UNDERCAPACITY.LOOK AT WHAT GM EQUIPPED THEIR CARS WITH ORIGINALLY. 6 CYLINDERS AND LOW COMPRESSION V-8'S WERE 2 CORE,ANYTHING MORE REQUIRED YOU TO STEP UP TO 4 CORE,AT LEAST WITH STEEL TANK,COPPER CORE LIKE WALKER AND OEM.ALUMINUM RADIATORS ARE A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME AND A 2 CORE MAY WORK. I HAVE A SIMILAR SET UP BUT 3.90 GEARS AND T350 TRANS.,MORE CAM AND 750 CARB. WALKER FOUR CORE RADIATOR. TEMP USUALLY STAYS RIGHT AROUND 165-180. WITH THE 100 DEGREE TEMP SUNDAY IT GOT CLOSE TO 195 AT 65MPH ON THE HIGHYWAY W/O A/C ON.JUST MY THOUGHTS-MAY BE ALL WET ESP WITH ALL THE RAIN WE GOT SUNDAY.
OGS41 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] SIMSBURY, Connecticutt
 
Posted by dixie  -  06/09/2008 10:23 PM
Blksheep i think u have all your bases covered ,except i think that 2400 stall with the od trans may b not the way to go.


Yea its hot here too ,are u going to atlanta this weekend ?
DIXIE try to keep cool down south.
jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006
 
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