When driving on the highway, my temperature is around 170ish, but in the city, even with the fan running 100% of the time, my temperature can soar up above 220 if I'm sitting too long in one spot.
My question is, do I need a bigger radiator and fan to keep it cool under all driving conditions?
Or is this about normal?
I have gone through a major motor swap, so the heating up is understandible, and I am concerned that the stock radiator isn't really enough for it.

 

You could run a 180 stat and use the fan switch that is used in the zz4 conversion.The switch kicks on the fans at 195, i think the cost is around $35.00.

 

I have a manual switch. I have it running 100% duty when I drive in town. Also I am running 180 thermostat. I'm just concerned.
I can turn on the fan manually anytime.

 

Yeah it's normal, but it couldn't hurt to upgrade the cooling system! Figure the stock system was supposed to run at 200 or 210 and now you've modified the motor so the stock sytem isn't goign to hold up quite as well. I's say look into a bigger radiator and a high flow water pump. That should help if not cure your problem.

Hope that helps.

 

From my understanding, it seems EVERYONE runs this way....city traffic = our engines running hot. The first time I got my car in stop and go traffic, I almost crapped my pants, because the temp kept soaring...but a few people I've talked to said as long as your running a healthy cooling system, you'll be fine.

 

I bought a JET temp sending unit and replaced the crap GM; now my temp is always in the 160-190 range - regardless of heat or traffic. Muy beuno!

 

This is pretty normal for these cars. Formulas aren't exactly known for having big honkin' grill openings, so the only air that flows through the radiator comes from the fan and from air that is deflectd up to the radiator by the air deflector at higher speeds.
The problem is airflow. A bigger radiator will not help much because at slow speeds or at stand still the airfow still is not there.
The fact that your coolant cools down when you get some speed up proves this. If you needed a bigger radiator the coolant would still be hot at high cruise speeds too.
A better fan system will help quite a bit with low speed/stopped cooling problems. The stock fan systems just don't flow enough air to cool much below that because they simply weren't designed to. Keep in mind that 220°-230° isn't that bad though, it's where these cars ran when brand new and all stock, It's just not the best for power.

 

the problem isn't as much as airflow as it is waterflow..

When ur driving on the freeway your crusing at about 2500 RPMS. but in traffic your at about 700 RPMS. you have alot less water flowing through your cooling system. AT least this has proven to be MY problem. In the summer i can stop a light and watch the guage start to go past 220, i put it in neutral, rev the engien some, and watch the guage start to go down. Now im not saying that airflow isn't the problem. but its more of a 50-50 thing. Getting more airflowing combined with a highflow pump or and electric pump, and you will have a good cooling system.

 

The stock guages in our cars arent always the most accurate either. I have my stock radiator with a high flow water pump and it runs no more than 190-200 I have a semi what modified rebuild engine nd I have no problems, I also have dual fans so I dunno.

 

Originally posted by breathment:
Although increasing water pump speed may help some, I think you will find that increasing airflow over the radiator will help ten fold over increasing pump speed/volume.

 

More air flow. Thirdgens were not designed to have very good air flow through the radiator. Get a bigger fan, or another fan in front of the radiator. My seems to cool better after I removed the seal on the back of the hood--alot of hot air flows out in traffic. I run at most 190 in traffic with the AC on. 180 degree thermostat.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by breathment
[B]the problem isn't as much as airflow as it is waterflow..

I've noticed this in my car too.
If I run the fans constantly and it's hot outside (over 85) my car is running at about 190 in traffic at idle.(stock radiator,160 degree stat)
If I'm in traffic and I bring the rpm's up to about 2000, it'll drop down to about 180, even though I'm not moving any more air
through the radiator.On the freeway, it sits right at 160.
So, IMO, water pump flow does make a difference.

Still, If I shut off one of the two fans, it'll raise 20 degrees pretty quick.So airflow (in my case) is more critical than water flow.
I have a lot of mods and my fans are aftermarket 14".

This'll be the first summer with my new engine, so I may end up having to upgrade to a bigger radiator before long.
I'd like to be able to keep the temp right at thermostat temp if possible.
-Rich-

 

<i would go with a becool aluminum radiator,twin fans and a high flow electric waterpump, since your supercharged