I have a 350 motor put in my 85 Firebird and I want to know if she'll over heat when I start driving her? I have heard two different stories, who is right?

 

What motor did it come with? Seems to me that If it had a V8 originally,and the radiator's not all clogged up, it should be fine.I recently swapped from 170HP 305 to 300HP 350,and so far haven't had heating problems.
I don't use the factory fan switch, though.
I have two aftermarket electric fans that come on at 190 and shut off at 180.
-Rich-

 

i took my ac radiator out and put new t-stat and new switch on 330 hp 350 with stock radiator and i had problems with being too cold so i went to a 180t-stat and its doing fine right now.

 

I had serious problems w/ overheating in my 87 T/A. The temp would redline at about 250 in the summer. if you have electric fans, this may help you. I put in a hypertech 160 thermostat and 160 fan switch in the block for the secondary cooling fan.(the switch is on the block near the #6 spark plug) I also wired both fans to manual switches under the dash. with both fans running, it doesnt get past 210 even in heavy traffic.

 

I had the 305t.b.i and went to a 300hp 350, and it is running about 210 all the time.

I wish it was more at 190.

 

Sorry, I still have the stock 2.8 rad. Will she work?

 

Will it work? Maybe. You want to chance your new engine to a "maybe", or drop the cash on (at the very least) a 350 radiator?

I've got a brand new one from AutoZone (with Lifetime warranty) you can have for $75 plus shipping. I stepped up to a Griffin for my 383 for "insurance."

Steve

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Steve's Trans Am Temple

 

I have a 3 core gm raditor, that I brought for my 305, it is now behind a 350 with a fan switch that turns on 195 and off at 180, and a 180 thermostate. Even in the summer idleing it never goes past past teh half way point between 220 and teh line below it, so i figure that to be about 195, it usally runs right on teh line.

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86Z28, GM 350, Jet perf Q-jet & chip Dual snorkel air cleaner, Edelbrock performer intake, Edelbrock headers, Edelbrock cat-back, Off road pipe, MSD 6AL, Accel Super Coil, Taylor Spiro-pro wires, Rapid fire plugs, Jet fan switch, World class t-5, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Ram Flywheel, Center force dual friction clutch,Aluminum drive shaft, BW disc rear 3.45's & a posi, PBR calipers, Earls braided brake lines, Polygrapite bushings all the way around, poly tranny mount & torque arm mount, Hotchkis lower control arms & panhard rod, Rancho limiter straps, KYB struts & shocks, Gm Wonderbar, Edelbrock strut tower brace, SSM sub frame connectors, Jamex lowering springs, Carbon metallic brake pads, Crossed drilled rotors, Mobil 1 Tranny fluid & motor oil, GM syntheic rear end oil, K&N, Grant stering wheel, 1,200 watt system, Jet Black Paint, 91 Z28 rims, 92 wing, Tinted windows.

 

I just went from a 305 TPI to a 350 ZZ4. The stock radiator appears to be holding it's own but I haven't stressed it yet. I plan on going to a 3 or 4 core before summer. I am using the stock thermostat and fan switch straight from the 305.