Lowering coolant temps will better be obtained through coating the radiator. Your motor should run at whatever the thermostat is labeled for. If your overheating with a thermostat then there are deeper issues. Between motors running no thermostat (so you have a constant) 15-20* drop in temps are easily gained. As for some numbers I have a few. On a Davidson Racing Engines Cheverolet 355 tested by John Erb, chief engineer for Keith Black Pistons, a 10hp increase was obtained with coating just the pistons. They were able to run 5 jet sizes smaller than uncoated. Before coating 1350 was the limit on egt's before parts failure. After coating egt's of 1450 were ran with no adverse effects. The coating allows for SMALLER jet sizes and LESS timing. The more efficient the motor the less timing is needed. On a partially coated engine, pistions and combustion chambers, an increase of 25hp was obtained. A ProStock app. (NHRA Legal 500ci) Reicheird Race Engine, made 1110hp, uncoated, and made a 1178 coated. A 68hp gain.

 

Why would you coat the radiatior? Unless you are limited by size it seems that a bigger more efficient radiator is in order.

The key to the coatings is that they KEEP the heat in the chamber to make the motor more thermally efficent. In cases like a SBC head where the center exhaust ports are very close keeping the heat out of areas like that will help with even cooling of the head and give you less hot spots in the chamber, therefore less chance of detonation.

Bret

 

Bret,

So do you recommend that I coat the heads although I have no coatings on the pistons?

 

Even if you go with a larger radiator you will still see benifits coating it with a thermal dispersant. It will cool more efficiently. I've seen motors with melted pistons and coated combustion chambers where the head came out great shape. It will definantly not hurt to coat what you can coat. Some people do it to push the edge and some do it for a little added insurance. There is no doubt it helps.

 

Im doing it for the cooling capabilities of thehead. If I can keep the head cooler im happier.

 

Might as well do the exhaust ports too since it's probably a SBC/LT1 head. Unless you want to run external cooling lines to the spot between the center exhuast ports.

 

Yes I was going to do CCs, exhaust ports and exhaust valves.. and face intake valves.

 

That and the piston top are the most effective places. Then I would say it would be to keep the heat out of the intake.

 

Should i coat the intake too??

My question: I have jet hots black coating on my headers.. should i send them the headers too for coating??

Thanks

 

You can coat the intake too, but there are other ways of keeping the heat out.

As for headers you want to keep the heat in them and not in the engine compartment. Jet Hot does a great job at that, while the only other option is thermal wrap, but you can't do both!

Bret

 

So i should not send the headers then... AS far as swaintech goes.. they say ceramic coating is crap from other people.. jeje...

Better for me this is becoming REALLY expensive...

I expect my heads to flow in the 300s range and then ceramic coat the chambers and ports.. should i coat the intake ports for flow?

I think I will leave the intake out of the coating if there is not a really noticeable difference.

 

I wouldn't bother with the intake ports.

I've seen tests where Jet Hot coating does a good job at keeping header temps down a good amount.

Bret

 

Thanks.. I will do then exhaust ports.. CCs valve faces and exhaust valves completely.

Would it be a good idea to port TBC where the intake sits? or would it prevent the gasket from mating or something similar? just to keep heat away from the intake or such.. jej..
Thanks