Overheating

conquista90 · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: Overheating

So I have an '81 El Camino. 350/TH350. I got my engine swapped in last year and of course, did not change my radiator. The car used to have a 267 in it, which I'm sure did not require a huge, efficient radiator, but my 350 does.

I have like the crappiest cooling system on this car money can buy. I have an OE replacement radiator. It is rusty, leaky, not nearly sufficient for an engine with a 9.5:1 compression ratio. I have no fan shroud and run a mechanical fan. I run a 180 degree thermostat. The overheating seems to happen independent of driving style. The temperature gauge is up to 260 after about 20 minutes of driving.

So today I walked into autozone and the guy there priced me a Visteon 3 row radiator at $329. Pretty much out of my price range, as I can find some Be Cool radiators for as low as $200 new.

So, can you guys help me out with finding a new cooling system? Radiator, possibly electric fan(s), and anything else you can think of to keep this thing as cool as possible? It's already 95 degrees here and its getting hotter. Price range is $450.

1BadElky · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

be cool seems to be the best bet there.

I think you can use camaro electric cooling fans? not sure if you'd need a third or fourth gen radiator though?
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PaPa Johns 77 · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Do a search! This is an often discussed conversion (to electric fan) using Camaro/Firebird components! Cool

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toms84ss · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject:

Here is what I did on my 81, it too was born a V-6 car, but now has a 305. I used my old 3 core Monte SS radiator with a 3rd gen. Camaro dual electric fan top plate. You'll have to drill new holes to mount the plate and trim the plate to clear the hood latch. No big deal, its plastic. I also used the dual fan set up and lower fan bracket from the Camaro. you'll need to make new mounting holes for the bottom bracket also. To control the fans I ordered a kit from Jeg's that has a switch that bolts in the cylinder head. It includes a relay and some wire to hook things up. Pretty easy install. You will need to find different rubber mounts for the bigger radiator. I scored several sets from the local junk yard and used the best fitting ones for my swap. Another option is a Modine 951 radiator. Its an aluminum core with plastic tanks. Same one for the Camaro and Firebird V-8 third gen cars. Electric fan top plate will fit it fine. You may need to bend your tranny lines to bolt up to the 951 radiator. again, no big deal. Junkyard might be a good place to start looking for the brackets and fan set up. There is also a single fan set up that is more common and mounts pretty much the same way.

conquista90 · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject:

So, I went to the junkyard today to score some cooling stuff. Turned up with nothing. They had about 10 different Montes, Regals, and El Caminos, but they were either V6, missing the fan shroud, or had broken fan shrouds. A guy at one of the junk yards told me to go to one right down the highway. He said they had just gotten an '85 Regal in that had a 350 in it and was ripe for the picking. I went over there and they guy said he wouldn't buy it because it had no title. Sad

So, I just said screw it and I ordered an electric fan and wiring harness from Jegs. I know where I can get a fan shroud, it's just the guy that has the car is a friend of a friend of a friend and he isn't home right now. My fan should get here Wednesday. By then I'll probably have my fan shroud and that should help things at least a little I would think. I fixed the hole in my radiator and that seemed to help a little.

rhimmel · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

GM still carries the OE fan shroud if that is of interest. I too have the "Modine 951" radiator in mine with no issues. Modine themselves is no longer an aftermarket supplier though there are some equivalents out there. I might be able to help you out on a new radiator, PM me if you are interested. I sell radiators everyday, I might be able to come up with something that'll fix ya right up for a reasonable price. I got my shroud from a local GM dealer, I think it was around $100 but it fit with no issues.

Rob
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Rhimmel
'81 El Camino

conquista90 · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

Bingo. I found a full aluminum radiator with tranny cooler at a reasonable price. $216.
http://www.radiatorexpress.com/product.asp?part=1981+CHEVROLET+EL+CAMINO++-+4.4+liter+V8+RADIATOR+All+Aluminum+2-Row+Replacement+(26%22X17%22)+&part_id=218170&aaia_id=1042579

Rhimmel is looking at a 4 row for me, but that's not guaranteed to fit. The aluminum one, however, is basically stock dimensions.

rhimmel · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

The 4 row will fit with minor trimming of the core support and replacing the insulators with GM #6264100 as the are metal impregnated and allow the use of the larger header.I'll leave my personal comments out about Radiator Express as they are a direct competitor to the company in which I am employed by.

Rob
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Rhimmel
'81 El Camino

toms84ss · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

I just re-read your post. Do you have the air deflector under the front of the car still? You said it takes about 20 minutes of driving to get too hot. No one has asked yet so I thought I would.

rhimmel · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I forgot about that. I had a third gen F car that had the famous missing deflector...I almost gave up until I was doing something else on the car and noticed the "excessive" frontal ground clearance. Fairly heap and cured all of the overheating issues.

Rob
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Rhimmel
'81 El Camino

conquista90 · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject:

conquista90 · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject:

rhimmel · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

Oh I understand completely. If yours is having issues like rust, leaks, etc. I am sure an OE replacement HD cooling should do you just fine. If you get a chance, see if yours gets hot all over, if its cool in spots that'll prove that its plugged internally. Also, look for bugs and debris in between the fins as that'll prevent airflow. Mine a BUNCH of crap between the rad and the condenser, though the engine that was in it was locked up. No big deal for me though, it was a 229 and I had a V8 on deck waiting.

Rob
_________________
Rhimmel
'81 El Camino

dwagner1974 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject: cooling system!!

i found some great deals on ebay for aluminum radiators and electric fan setups .. Go to ebay and enter the item numbers i list below and you can check them out .. this is what i used in my 78 Elky with an aluminum head 406 roller motor and it stays under 200 even in traffic .. check these out and good luck !!

Radiator - 200233353484
cooling fans -260253720343
wiring harness and relay kit -270249576291

These work great for me !!
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alphamale1906 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

I did a similar swap going from a 6 to a 350 (except I went with 305 heads). Even with all the compression, I opted for the AutoZone purchase. However, I decided to go with the CU162 model for $140. The guy I purchased the car from already had the v8 fan shroud that he threw in with the car. It was an original GM shroud that I have seen on Ebay for $100 or so. Anyway, I have a 160 thermostat in it and I have not seen the temps go above 175 (yes, even with 10 to 1 compression).

The swap was part of my low budget build up and I was almost tempted to go with used radiator off Craigslist, but figured I go with the new one from AZ. However, I wined about the $140, so there was no way I was going with anything more expensive than that. Between the shroud and a 19 inch flex lite fan pulling the cool air through, I'm good. The bottom hose feeding into the block is always relatively cool to the touch, so I know the radiator is doing a pretty good job.

The only time I've run an electric fan is on a big block in an older Vette. I actually run the electric and mechanical fan. Becuase of the way the radiator is at an angle, I strongly beleive in fan shrouds. I ran without it for a month and overheated everytime. Even on 75 degree days. As a result, I'll always run a fan shroud...Whether I go electric or mechanical fan.
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