I have just dropped a 350 carbureted motor into my wife's 92 RS (replacing the TBI 305). The new engine is a mild 350 with iron heads and the usual bolt-ons. I put on a new water pump, hoses and stat. otherwise, the cooling system's all stock, including the single-core radiator and single fan. Chin spoiler is in place. Engine is tuned reasonably well. I temporarily wired the fan to run continuously, expecting overheating problems with the bigger, more powerful motor.
The surprisong part is that it's actually keeping the engine cool in 90* weather!!! Not that I've taken it on any long trips, but driving it around for 30 minutes, some more idling in the driveway while adjusting the carb, and then more driving around. It seems to stay just a hair over the hash mark between the 100 and 220 lines. It's got a 180 stat in it and like I said, the fan is temporarily wired to run continuously. I haven't turned on the A/C or idlied it in traffic for extended periods of time yet (I can't subject my fragile psyche to that kind of stress jsut yet- seems too much to ask of a stock cooling system).
Should I possibly expect my good luck to hold out or am I just asking for overheat troubles later??? I considered the single fan system barely adequate with the wheezing 305. How can it possibly be expected to keep the 350 cool?
The surprisong part is that it's actually keeping the engine cool in 90* weather!!! Not that I've taken it on any long trips, but driving it around for 30 minutes, some more idling in the driveway while adjusting the carb, and then more driving around. It seems to stay just a hair over the hash mark between the 100 and 220 lines. It's got a 180 stat in it and like I said, the fan is temporarily wired to run continuously. I haven't turned on the A/C or idlied it in traffic for extended periods of time yet (I can't subject my fragile psyche to that kind of stress jsut yet- seems too much to ask of a stock cooling system).
Should I possibly expect my good luck to hold out or am I just asking for overheat troubles later??? I considered the single fan system barely adequate with the wheezing 305. How can it possibly be expected to keep the 350 cool?
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Jun 9, 2008
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Quote:
Originally posted by Damon
I have just dropped a 350 carbureted motor into my wife's 92 RS (replacing the TBI 305). The new engine is a mild 350 with iron heads and the usual bolt-ons. I put on a new water pump, hoses and stat. otherwise, the cooling system's all stock, including the single-core radiator and single fan. Chin spoiler is in place. Engine is tuned reasonably well. I temporarily wired the fan to run continuously, expecting overheating problems with the bigger, more powerful motor.
The surprisong part is that it's actually keeping the engine cool in 90* weather!!! Not that I've taken it on any long trips, but driving it around for 30 minutes, some more idling in the driveway while adjusting the carb, and then more driving around. It seems to stay just a hair over the hash mark between the 100 and 220 lines. It's got a 180 stat in it and like I said, the fan is temporarily wired to run continuously. I haven't turned on the A/C or idlied it in traffic for extended periods of time yet (I can't subject my fragile psyche to that kind of stress jsut yet- seems too much to ask of a stock cooling system).
Should I possibly expect my good luck to hold out or am I just asking for overheat troubles later??? I considered the single fan system barely adequate with the wheezing 305. How can it possibly be expected to keep the 350 cool?
I have the stock fan in my car cooling my 406. The fan is rigged to run while the car is on. Make sure you have the air dam in place. It should be fine.Originally posted by Damon
I have just dropped a 350 carbureted motor into my wife's 92 RS (replacing the TBI 305). The new engine is a mild 350 with iron heads and the usual bolt-ons. I put on a new water pump, hoses and stat. otherwise, the cooling system's all stock, including the single-core radiator and single fan. Chin spoiler is in place. Engine is tuned reasonably well. I temporarily wired the fan to run continuously, expecting overheating problems with the bigger, more powerful motor.
The surprisong part is that it's actually keeping the engine cool in 90* weather!!! Not that I've taken it on any long trips, but driving it around for 30 minutes, some more idling in the driveway while adjusting the carb, and then more driving around. It seems to stay just a hair over the hash mark between the 100 and 220 lines. It's got a 180 stat in it and like I said, the fan is temporarily wired to run continuously. I haven't turned on the A/C or idlied it in traffic for extended periods of time yet (I can't subject my fragile psyche to that kind of stress jsut yet- seems too much to ask of a stock cooling system).
Should I possibly expect my good luck to hold out or am I just asking for overheat troubles later??? I considered the single fan system barely adequate with the wheezing 305. How can it possibly be expected to keep the 350 cool?
ive had that same fan and radiator keeping a warmed over 400SBC cool in 95*+ weather....
as long as everything is in place and working correctly, it will stay cool.
as long as everything is in place and working correctly, it will stay cool.
Thanks, guys. I appreciate the info. Never dreamed a setup that barely kept the old 305 cool would keep up with a bigger motor on a hot day. I guess I gotta give the system more credit. I was mostly concerned the single fan just wouldn't move enough air.
Then again, I had my suspicions about the water pump on the old 305. I'm not even sure it was the right one for the application (reverse rotation). And the bottom rad hose didn't have the spring inside it. The new water pump is definitely the right one and the bottom rad hose now has the spring inside. Other than that, I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Seems to be OK so far.
Then again, I had my suspicions about the water pump on the old 305. I'm not even sure it was the right one for the application (reverse rotation). And the bottom rad hose didn't have the spring inside it. The new water pump is definitely the right one and the bottom rad hose now has the spring inside. Other than that, I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Seems to be OK so far.