Simple mods to improve cooling?
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 317
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Simple mods to improve cooling?
My 460 runs fairly cool when it's got some open road but when it's mired in bumper to bumper traffic the needle goes up to the L in "Normal". I know it's a cheap gauge and probably not the most accurate but I have to figure it's in the ballpark. I know I could cool it down alot by installing an electric fan, that's what I did with my Thunderbird and it's very effective but I don't really feel like doing that with this truck. Is there any extra cooling to be had with an aftermarket flex fan? Would installing a lower temp thermostat help or would it just delay the heat buildup. Suggestions?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: fargo, nd
if it isnt cooling enough at idle then putting a lower temp thermostat in wont do anything but increase wear on your cylinder walls. if youre really worried about it you could take the clutch off the clutch fan and just run the fan direct- that will cool the engine better than an electric fan ever could, and its one less part to go out 
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
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From: Union, Washington
My 1984 F250 460 has a temp switch for the vacuum going to the dist. When the temp gets to like 200-210° the switch swaps the vacuum source for the dist. from ported to manifold to jack the idle speed until the motor cools down. It's a featured added for this exact problem. I prefer the 4 core radiator, as a solution though. A lot more money, but a better fix.
Cheap things are to make sure the shroud fits tight to the radiator and make sure the radiator and he A/C condensor are oth clean for more air thru them. And as mentioned before, get rid of the stupid clutch fan assembly. I got a Ford 7 blade (no clutch) fan and it's betterthan the clutch. You can drill and bolt the clutch unit so it doesn't lip anymore to.
Cheap things are to make sure the shroud fits tight to the radiator and make sure the radiator and he A/C condensor are oth clean for more air thru them. And as mentioned before, get rid of the stupid clutch fan assembly. I got a Ford 7 blade (no clutch) fan and it's betterthan the clutch. You can drill and bolt the clutch unit so it doesn't lip anymore to.
Last edited by Bear 45/70; Jul 19, 2007 at 03:44 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: fargo, nd
but it only has any cooling issues at idle and low speeds... that says to me that the clutch on the fan isnt working... and he said cheap fix... so i said disable the clutch and make it direct drive... it may still overheat with a new 4 core if the fan clutch is bad in this situation.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 837
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From: Minnesota
Before you do anything make sure that the radiator you're running is clean and open to air flow. I replaced the factory trailer towing radiator with a four-core Trans Pro HeatBuster (no regrets) but found as I was removing the stocker that it was almost completely plugged with bugs, mud, etc.. and at that time I had only ~50K miles on the truck.
It's hard to see how clean it is if you have an AC condensor in front.
It's hard to see how clean it is if you have an AC condensor in front.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Western Central NV
Originally Posted by darrin1999
but it only has any cooling issues at idle and low speeds... that says to me that the clutch on the fan isnt working... and he said cheap fix... so i said disable the clutch and make it direct drive... it may still overheat with a new 4 core if the fan clutch is bad in this situation.
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