I still haven't solved my overheating problem...........well ok the car doesn't really overheat anymore but it gets WAAAY too hot. It goes up to 215 while driving in the middle of teh night with no stoplight driving, thats ridiculous. If I got caught at a light in the day it would overheat for sure. I have the factory style aluminum radiator, and quite frankly it looks really tiny in comparison to the copper/brass radiator in my firebird. In case you didnt' catch from previous posts, here's what I've done already

Motor is carbed 350 with 305 heads, compression is about 9.7ish:1...........
Gutted thermastat,
Fan wired to run constantly,
Air dam is in place, nothing is blockign the radiator, water pump has been replaced, timing is perfect 35 degrees total, external flex-lite tranny cooler for the 3,200 stall 10inch converter....which is mounted just above the air dam, and the aluminum radiator which I believe is out of an 87ish trans am??

 

Install two 12" Perma Cool high cfm electric fans from Summit or Jeg's, put in a 180* thermostat and drill two 1/8th inch holes on the outside edges to purge air in the system and completely flush the cooling system and fill it with only 1 gallon of coolant which should make the mixture a 70/30 mix. You should also clean between the radiator fins with an air hose if you have one or with a garden hose, a lot of dust accumulates between the fins over the years. If your engine still gets too hot, I would have the radiator checked or get a 31"x 19" all aluminum Griffin for $189 from Summit or Jeg's.

 

You need to put in a thermostat that isnt gutted! The cooling system needs cycle time in order to function properly especially in our air flow limited cars!

 

try a 160* or 180* thermostat that has the two 1/8" holes in them

 

you could probably benefit greatly with dual fans, and a higher flowing thermostat, if u goto autzone, get their generation 2 thermostats. they are supposed to be higher flowing. and the stock aluminum radiator might look smaller because its only a one core, while the brass plastic is 3 core.. however the core on the aluminum radiator is larger, by alot. that is why people prefer aluminum radiators, they are lighter weight, stronger and cool just as well, and don't corrode as bad. it might help getting a new one.. or flusing ur cooling system.

 

If you're getting that hot just driving at night I'd definitely replace the radiator. It isn't a cooling fan issue unless you're getting hot at a stop.

 

Make sure the lower radiator hose isn't collapsing and that the cap is good.

 

People gotta be carefull here. Although the aluminum radiator DOES flow better and its properties allow slightly better heat transfer, the copper 3 core actually flows more coolant at a slightly lower rate allowing more cycle time and heat transfer then a stock 1 core aluminum. Now If we talking Griffen aluminum then theres no comparison. Griffen makes specialty radiators, thats all they do so of course thier radiators are going to be better then a stock one core or a 3 core copper, the price reflects the quality.

 

Just read an article that stated copper dissapates the heat better than the aluminum radiator (though maybe not a Griffen or Be Cool) anyway try going up a couple pounds on your radiator cap also.