cooling help

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Mar 30, 2001 | 12:58 AM

withersw

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Joined: Feb 2001

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cooling help

I have a brand new 400 in my truck that I take out in the desert of southern utah It runs a little on the warm side with the brand new to spec radiator and I am scared the first time I am out crawling over the sandstone desert at 100 degrees it is going to fry what should I do..

Mar 30, 2001 | 06:09 AM

77_F150_4x4

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Joined: Feb 2000

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From: Temperance,MI

cooling help

I wouldent go out in the desert until you have that motor fully broke in. You dont want to get out there and get it sinking and have to climb on it with the motor not fully broke in.

Curtis
77_F150_4x4 aka
"The BeAsT"
85 bronco II aka
"Baby Beast"

Mar 30, 2001 | 06:42 AM

Nathan

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cooling help

These motors tend to run on the warm side. Mine is usually between 210 and 230 depending on outside temp and how its driven. Do you have a mech gauge, and if so, what temps are you seeing now?

Nathan

Mar 30, 2001 | 01:49 PM

beartracks

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Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 6,637

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From: Albuquerque

cooling help

In my opinion anything over 200 degrees is going to cause problems. Especially vapor lock in a carb. A "FOUR" row radiator was the answer for my truck. No more problems even on a 100 degree day.

1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything

Mar 30, 2001 | 05:45 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

cooling help

beartracks brings up an interesting point. I see posts all the time saying "my truck is overheating". But I have seen newer cars run up to 230 degrees all the time. Some with electric fans don't turn the fan on until 230 degrees. Most trucks came original with a 190-195 degree thermostat. If you want your truck to stay at 200 all the time, this means the radiator has to keep the engine within a 5-10 degree window. I will agree that most of the time this is possible, but under certain conditions the temp will certainly go higher than this for a short period of time and I don't see any reason to panic.

Mar 30, 2001 | 06:26 PM

Nathan

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cooling help

>beartracks brings up an interesting point.
> I see posts all
>the time saying "my truck
>is overheating". But I
>have seen newer cars run
>up to 230 degrees all
>the time. Some with
>electric fans don't turn the
>fan on until 230 degrees.
>

Many of the newer motors are designed to run hotter to "burn up" more of the emissions. As I stated before, my M motor runs at 230 quite often and has shown no problems with the heat. Thermostats wont controll the operating temperature of a motor, just how fast it comes up to the rated temp of the 'stat. A cooler 'stat wont make a motor run cooler, as most people think.

Nathan

Apr 2, 2001 | 12:39 PM

beartracks

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From: Albuquerque

cooling help

I also have a 92 Camaro R/S that does not turn on the fan untill 230 degrees or so. This is factory on purpose. However the engine runs like doggie dodo when it gets this hot. It's also got to be terrible on wiring and sensors. I'm adding a fan and lower temp switch.

1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything