okay. i got a 1967 camaro ss. 350. i got a 3 core 21" rad. i just took off the fan shroud and engine fan, put on a 16" electric. it flows 2000 cfm.

my car ran around 210 last year. when i was in traffic. temperature was about 85-95 degrees outside. with the engine fan, this year im runnin like 230 degrees when im only in traffic for a few minutes. i just replaced my thermostat. and i dont know the problem. im putting in a trans cooler so thatll help, but i dont think enough. i got water wetter in their too. anyone know why its runnin so hot.

basically all im asking is are electric fans sh**? if so ill toss my old one back on, but i like the electric, pick up a few ponies.

 

How old is your radiator and water pump and coolant? The radiator might need a good cleaning and the coolant flushed. A highflow aluminum water pump would help. Also, how much water do you have in your coolant? It should be a 50/50 mix at the most for cooling purposes (more water = cooler temps). Up in Winnepeg you may need more antifreeze for the winter, I don't know. If you do, try diluting it with water for the summer. That is usually people's main problem with running hotter than normal.

I have a 70 SS 350 and in triple digit summer weather it gets up to 190*F. In nice weather it might get up to 180*. The cooling system is bone stock with a clutch fan and all not even any water wetter. It ran pretty much as cool back when I was running a built engine and 4.11 gears.

 

Greed4Speed,
Water wetter should not be used with coolant. It is a water additive that allows you to run straight water without causing problems. Should actually run cooler than antifreeze/water mixtures.

As far as electric fans, assuming they are coming on when they are supposed to and running at the right speed, they should be fine. Idle the engine in your driveway until it gets warmed up and see at what point the fans kick on.

 

Water pump would be my first guess... especially if its a stocker.

I ran a Weiand aluminum w/p with my 68 327 and a US Radiators Desert Cooler. You can also try going one level colder on the spark plugs, and use a 160 degree stat, if you didn't do so already. With that setup my 68 RS never hit 200, even in the middle of the summer.

 

Notice it does say glycol coolant..aka Antifreeze.

 

I guess maybe I worded that poorly - I meant that it usually isn't added along with coolant (in my experience).

 

Second the suggestion. Have the radiator rodded out. Or maybe even replaced. A 3 row for a 2nd gen is about $120 at Autozone; might be better to start with a fresh one. Don't know what a 1st gen runs, but just to give you a ballpark.

A few years ago the 400 in my 71 was running around 210 idling in traffic. Figured that's what 400's ran, as they have a hot rep. My radiator sprung a leak, took it in for repair. Guy told me it needed rodding out, cause it had a buildup of corrosion. Temp after that rarely got above 190, even idling at the entrance to the track waiting to get in. This was with a 160 stat.

 

I would try to run two fans, one puller and one pusher (one in front of radiator, one behind) I have heard that works well. Also definately have it boiled out, its cheap and will help a lot!

 

Nothing moves as much air as a well matched combo of engine driven clutch-fan and radiator shroud. Unless your rad and/or pump got seriously corroded since last year the only difference I can see is the fan. I think you answered your own question.

My brother's 87 T/A needed fans stuck all over the rad front and back to keep the monster 409 cool in hot weather. Once we got enough air moving through it it ran cool, but with just a single puller fan like yours it would slowly creep up over 230 cruising around in hot weather.

If you want an electric fan setup that really works well I'll recommend a set of duals from a 4th gen F-body. LORD, do they move a lot of air! And they come in their own shroud that is relatively easy to adapt to an earlier GM radiator setup. Far FAR better than other typical ziptie-on units from a speed shop.

 

While you are at it, check the timing on the motor. Excessively retarded timing will make it run warm also. Also make sure your cap is holding pressure; higher pressure = higher boiling point.

 

^i was just going to say that
replace your cap since they're cheap... if that's not it, then perhaps you water pump is crapping out on you? or maybe there's a clog in the rad somewhere... after running the car just gently feel it to see if there are any cold spots (careful! it will be hot)

 

alright. i changed my thermostat, got a new rad cap, put on my old fan with shroud and am running about a 20% antifreeze to water. and i also got my rad all flushed out and cleaned out.

so far hasn't been over 200 and it was pretty warm today. thanks a lot guys.

 

I know I'll get ****e for this comment but maybe look into it. We have built a few different cars, big block and small blocks...and for cooling we use an eldlebrock aluminum water pump and a fan set up, out of the new mustang cobras....works well in cooling down here in florida....