tomster03

ok right now i have a 2 row radiator in my 88 camaro. with the fresh 388 i just put in. i really dont think it is flowing enough water to keep cool. the temp doen not come down on hot days and well keep climbing till it bowls. it does run a tad cooler at idle but not much. as soon as i give it gas she heats right up. i can get a 3 core that will fit in my car with no mody for little over 100 bucks new. should i go this rout? will the extra roaw bring my car down a hole 40 degrees? that is a lot i know but i want to keep it at 220 or lower? should i just for get the chepo and waist a crap load of money on a aluminom becool or somthin of that sort? i dont have that much money to burn. guys i just dont want to buy somthin and not have it work good enough so give me your opinoins

tomster03

WOW i just notest somthing i can not type at all haha sorry for alllll the typo's

breathment

aluminum?

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

any radiator you get should be aluminum. It conducts heat better then copper can. To really take full advantage of having the new radiator, you should probably get an aftermarket fan or dual fans from a tpi camaro to increase the air flow through it as well. With the added row of fins it will impede the airflow a little more so the stock fan probably wont cut it. Also a good idea to ditch the a/c condensor if you dont youse the a/c much, that will increase airflow a little more, too, but its not absolutly necesary. Probably a good idea to get a better water pump for it so you can have a greater mass flow rate of coolant going through the engine. Dont buy the myth that circulating coolant too fast will cause overheating. Ive seen that one floating around in here somewhere.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

i hear griffin makes very good radiators. I still have my stock aluminum one and it seems to do ok w/ my new 350. But, its not a 388 like yours.

tomster03

sooo you dont think the extra row will make that much of a drop in temp. and i should go with a expenive one? i pulled the ac condensser out long ago. and i know my water pump pushes some good presure. ive tried difernt thermastats in it too , 160 makes ir run cooler at idle but it gets hotter faster the temp changes up and down a lot more. a 195 makes it run damn near the same temp at idle and at high rpm but that temp is 250 at idle 260 at about 2500 and then shee boils.... i dont know where to go with it... i was really hopen a extra row would fix my problems since i can get the 3 core cheap. i could got the dual fans too....

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

how many miles are on the 388? New engines will make an s-load of heat. I take it your cooling system is, for the most part, in good shape and the radiator isnt clogged so id say its definatly a friction problem with the new engine, assuming the rad is in good shape. When your driving there should be at least enoguh airflow to keep the system from boiling over, it may run hot but even the stock one shouldnt boil over under average driving conditions. Even at 102 degrees outside stuck in traffic with my pos beat to hell stock single fan sputtering away it wont go over 220

tomster03

the 388 has had one oil change so far the 2 row radiator in it now is new watter pump is in good condition all the hoses are new. right now it has the 195 stat in im going to switch to the 160 probley tomarrow. im thinking about trying thinker oil. right now im running some thinner stuff in it but not to thin.. what ya think... could that be running it hotter to? i know it would make it alittle hot but not That hot..

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Running any thicker motor oil will generate more heat because of its increased viscosity causes more friction in the oil itself. Small layers of oil can actually exert a surprising ammount of shear force when its between a bearing and a journal. I usually run 10-w30. You can run 5-w30 but its better to run the thicker oil when temps are hot. Try taking the t-stat out completly and see how it makes out. Youll be moving as much water through the system as your pump will allow. Some guys say the water wont have enough time to cool but thats a myth.

tomster03

if that is a myth why would they evon put a stat in a car? i meen it has to have some truthe. well any ways back to my original question the 3 core wont make much of a defernce to get?

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

id say it would make a difference to get a three core. There will be more cross sectional area for the coolant to go through and more surface area to dissipate heat. But, there has to be another eason for why its getting so HOT! Is the water pump you have new? I assume it is but it never hurts to ask. I saw a reasonably new looking w. pump that had the impeller reduced to a little nub by corrosion and extreme cavitation. And btw, the t-stat is there to regulate the engines temperature. W/O it, your engine would run way too cool when the ambiant air temp is low and never come up to operating temp, not to mention the computer (if you still have it) would never go into closed loop mode.

tomster03

well it use to be a 383 but i spun a bering on the crank and it put a nice grove in my crank letting the conecting rod slap around. that motor ran 220 ave. well i took it to the maching shop went 60 over new crank rods and pistonts. new cam to the onley one got wipped out.. everything was flushed. and cleaned. i put it all together in my car broke it in and this is hows its ran... HOT hot hot... it dont do too bad when out side temp is 60's but its been close to 100 and the car wont cool off it has a can of 40 below in it to. i dont think that did anything. it is a 81 block and people are telling my the cylinder walls are to thin making it hot... and every one around here i talked to says 388's run extreamly hot always somthin with the big cylinders and long stroke. but i guess im going to try the tree core. hope it can bring my down a good 40 degrees. oh and the water pump is not new but it is in good condition i do know that. i had the back plate off and put a new gasket on it. had some gunk in it nuthin major. and i can see it flow great threw the radiator when i rev it up with the cap off.
thanx for your help tho i'll let you know how the 3 row does

jamesbern

Pressure the system up and check for leaks, then check or replace your cap. My 383 never gets hot with the stock 2 core radiator, even in city traffic. 180 degrees is the highest it has ever been, even when I broke it in.