Hey- I had a 383 stroker (.30 over) and i blew it up, so i went .60 over on my new engine making it a 388 stroker(the block is a 81 4 bolt main). I have a 165 degree thermostat and my timing is set correctly. I am using the stock electric fan which runs constantly and a aftermarket 2 core jegs radiator, and a stock water pump. I am playing hell trying to keep this engine cool, with my old 383 i would run around 190 to 200 degrees with this new 388 i am running 240-260 when driving and about 210 at idle. Anyone have any ideas how i could keep it cooler?

 

You could get a dual fan setup out of the junkyard. Have you tried aftermarket oil and tranny coolers? Just my thoughts

 

look into a aftermarket water pump they make a few. Not sure on brands but i an sure someone else is. Are you still running a 195 stat if so you may want to go to a 180 or 160 to drop the temp also. A two fan settup with a aftermarket swith to kick on at lower temp could also help. If you have any questions about any of the things i listed look in past posts or repost a new question. hope this helps a little.


Car looks great by the way.

 

just for 91blkta, he says hes running a 165 thermo...

i would recommend like the first guy said, a two fan setup. i have a two fan setupon my car and only one fan was working and i was running around 220-230 and now with the two fans wired together on a manual switch thats almost always on the car gets up to about 200-210 and stays.

for what its worth, i run a 160 thermo, manual fan switch like i said, straight water with water wetter, stock water pump...

 

hey i have a question for ya wouldnt the 160 stat make the car run hotter because it is constontly circulating? i mean for a car that runs 240 all the time wouldnt a 195 make a better stat so the fluid can cool??? and would the daul fan really drop the temp that much? i cant see how it makes"that much" of a differnce seeing how they are smaller fans..... what if they were to install daul pusher fans on the front of the radiator along with the single in behinde? i did it on a s-10 once and it seemed to work. or would that end up blocking air flow?

 

I know it's not right but this is what I am using and it works great .Here we go it is a fan out of a lincon mark eight it is said to pull 5000 I repeat 5000 cfm my camaro never goes above 185 that is with a 165 thermo and stock radiator also has a painless wiring thermostatic switch .When the fan turns on the temp drops right away hope this helps

 

Have you checked your bottom radiator hose? It could be collapsing when the rpms go up. With the hood up and the car idling in park or nuetral ( with the e-brake on ) rev the engine up and look at the bottom hose. If it doesn't suck together then you'll just have to try what ever works. I like the big fan mod myself, and a fan shroud that covers the whole rad couldn't hurt either.

Steve

 

No the hose dont colaps it *** a metal wire in it i just dont think it flows enough and a new radiator costs bucks... what if i went with a 195-200 stat it would give the fluid a chance to cool? or is that just going to make it boil from the fluid in the moter getting to hot?

oh yeah im sorry its my car i just had a friend post for me because it was not working for me

 

Try a Stewart water pump - made quite a difference for my 383's heat.


S.

 

i dont see how a water pump would help me any unless mine was messed up wich its not.

 

bigger pump will flow more water, faster

 

It sounds like an air flow problem to me. As you already know the faster the engine turns the more heat it generates. The fact that it runs cooler at idle with the fan running seems to indacate that the faster you go the hotter it gets. Also no one mentioned the chin spoiler or even if you still have one. If you do you might add a rubber strip at the bottom of it, about an inch or so should be enough, this will help put more air thru the radiator and less under the car. Check to make sure all heater hoses are routed correctly and run about a 25% to 75% antifreeze to water ratio or pure water and a lube for the pump.
Hope you find your problem.

Steve