I have an 84 camaro with a 350 swap in it and my temp gauge seems to like to keep rising. I have alawys had problems with it but did get it under control with the 305. But with the new motor I'm thinkging when it gets hotter will definatley have issues. My question is I am thinking about going with a (maybe) summit aluminum dual core radiator and maybe a perma-cool fan. But not totally sure on the combo looking for any advice in what parts to get what your running stuff like that. Thanks in advance

 

You should get plenty of cooling out of a stock radiator, assuming the fans are working and it's not clogged and such. Any radiator shop will have a stock replacement radiator for $125 or so - a great savings.

First, make sure the fans are working properly. What temp do they come on at? Do you have the air dam in place? What temp thermostat are you running? What are you calling hot - these cars run about 220 before the fans even come on.

You can get a candy thermometer from the Dollar Tree for a buck, run the car with the radiator cap off, holding the candy therm in the coolant stream in the top of radiator, until the fans kick in, and get a general idea what temp that really is - maybe the guage is just off.

Have you replaced the radiator cap? These small cheap things make a world of difference.

Try some of this first - before the big bucks on a new radiator, unless you just want to spend cash - I myself need to save my cash for this $3 and rising rapidly gas! My 350 likes the liquid gold too much!

 

I am currently running an OE replacement radiator plastic tank alumnium fin. 160* t-stat fan is manual and it comes on replaced the cap it seemed to help a little but gauge just climbs a little slower. the gauge says about 240* area seems like it would still climb but I haven't takin too far from home yet. the air dam is in place everything looks good. I think i'll have to try the candy thermo thing see how far off the gauge is. But I would still like some opinions on radiators and fans. the only other thing is the hose from the overflow to the rad cap area I could not find heater hose small enough to replace it can I use fuel line without a problem?

 

run a 189 degree fan switch (pass side head) and a 180 thermostat. If colling sysytem is ok, and your UNDERCAR air dam is not broke it will be cooler and your transmission withy thank you forever

NAPA FS158

 

Well looks like the gauge is way off. Did the thermometer thing gauge said around 230* temp with the thermometer was about 190*. So could the sensor be saoking up heat from the headers or are the gauges inaccurate alot??

 

The guages are often inaccurate - lets face it, at best a 3rd gen is 15 years old. And I'm sure they were never engineered to give a precise accurate reading - they were designed to be something extra (a step above the idiot light) that could add an extra $300 to the sticker.

Stock, these Fbods run hot anyways - GM engineered them that way - 220 is the norm temp for fans to even think about kicking in, unless the A/C is on.

The candy thermometer isn't a perfect answer either - obviously the coolant in the block is going to be hotter than the coolant in the radiator. And who's to say the thermometer isn't off some too? But now you have an idea anyways - and you know not to panic when you see 240 on the guage.

Information is the most desired commodity, yet often the cheapest to obtain, and the most overlooked.