With a winch, and condenser blocking my radiator, my 460 doesn't really enjoy staying cool. It runs idling at about 225, and running down the road it runs about 215. Now this is at like 96 degrees outside with 95% humidity, not optimum conditions for an engine to stay cool.

This is my current setup.

Cardone water pump
545 3 Core radiator (large radiator)
Straight 19" fan (no fan clutch)
it's all clean.
Up into the other day I had a fan shroud, but i took it loose working on something else, and it broke, but it should still be cooling while driving down the road.

So how do you all keep your engines cool? Does this sound like I have a different problem, or is my cooling system just not up to the task?

 

I use a electric fan wired to a relay that is triggered by a oil pressure switch (switch not sender) off of a newer ford v6 and never overheat. I can tow or drive on the sand with no issues or idle until i run out of gas with no problems

 

This is my setup:


They're from a 00 Chevy Mailbu with a 3.1, simply wired through relays to a toggle on the dash for each, I usually let them both run all the time, but if the truck is idling or it is a cool day one of them keeps it plenty happy.
Stock rad, water pump of unknown vintage, 195 stat, really nothing fancy at all.

Have you checked between the condenser and the rad and made sure it's clean? I have seen in between them plugged many times. That big old mechanical fan should keep that rig cool.

 

The big fan should keep it cool, but you really need to put a shroud back in to direct the air flow better. Sounds like you might have some other issues going on if it's running that hot all the time. What thermostat do you have in it?

 

I use a 4 row Super Cooler. If this won't cool it then there is something wrong with your motor. Takes 2 people to put it in.

 

My radiator Is clean as a whistle.

I have a 160 thermostat.

My other truck with a 460 does not do this. Any thoughts? Maybe it's blown a head gasket or something.

 

If it was a blown head gasket, you'd probably be loosing some water into the motor somewhere. Has it been low on coolant? Could be clogged passages, are you sure you are getting good flow through the system?

 

I'm not losing water into the oil, I do know that much, I don't think Im losing any through the exhaust either, though it does steam for a few minutes usually when I crank it up. (Usually when its cooler).

All the water passage ways should be fine, the radiator is fairly new, and I had the motor rebuilt back during the winter so I think I have my bases covered there. Until recently, if the motor ever got hot, if I took off down the road, it would cool itself off very quickly, but I just put that a/c condenser on the front of the radiator, and bolted the winch back up, and broke the fan shroud. I know none of these help it, but I wouldn't think they would inhibit air flow traveling down the road that significantly.

I have another truck with a 460, granted it doesn't have a condenser and winch blocking the radiator, but it has a clutched fan with no fan shroud, and it'll sit there all day without running hot.

 

Did it run hot before putting in the new condenser? If not, then there has to be someting in those fins clogging it up so you aren't getting air flow across the radiator. blow some air from the front with an air compressor and see if you can feel it coming through the radiator. It will let you know if that is the case or not.

 

a smoke generator works real good for checking airflow through the radiator to.

 

If it isn't an airflow issue, where is your timing at?

 

I run a 16" Rapid cool electric fan and a morso electric water pump drive and a stock radiator with a 460 last weekend it was hot as hell and after 2 passes almost back to back i was till running in the 190 range, im also running a 160 thermostat

 

try royal purple anti frezze works great in my suburban on the pismo dunes

 

poverty purple can suck it.


you could try a product called 'water wetter' i think it is, supposed to drop the temp by 10-15 degrees

 

Well I don't believe the fins of the condenser or radiator is the culprit, and there is absolutely no mud clogging up the fins of the radiator. And I've about decided it isn't a air flow problem because if you hold a paper towel within a foot of the grill, it'll get sucked into the abyss... As far as the timing goes, I have it timed as high as she'll go without pinging, but I have not recurved the dizzy. I set the timing with out a timing light so I don't guess I am much help with the numbers.