My maxi has a full fill of hard block and when I drive it a couple of miles to work,the temp is hitting the 230 mark.I am running a 7 blade fan and a 3 core stock rad w/o a shroud.Would it be worth buying a new super dooper rad.Or bite the bullit and do another block?I am selling the car and that has been an issue on the sale.

i would be more worried about oil temp. You will never be able to keep the oil cool with a full block of hardblock. I would think the water temp would be fine since all the cooling system has to deal with is the heads. You should never have a fully filled block on the street.

You might try converting it to run E85 my

It is hard to tell what the problem is from here. A filled block should not have water temperature problems, it puts less heat in the water and more in the oil.

A fan shroud is a big help for proper air flow.

If your radiator is not in good health (inside or out), then a good aluminum one will improve that. If the fill is causing water circulation problems, that is another story.

How much cooler if any would e85 fuel run?And what % more fuel should it run?Would a thermostat help or hinder water temp?And I have noticed my oil pressure fluctuate alot when hot.Right now it is rottella.

In a standard engine, the water in the block is the only thing that cools the oil. When you hard block the engine, you remove that coolant capability.

If you are going to drive this car on the street----you must have a very good(and large) oil cooler. And a cheap cooler won't work----you will need a cooler about 50% of the size of the radiator.

If you don't cool the oil, it quickly loses it ability to lubricate the engine---washes bearings---becomes very nasty quick!

I'd agree with 440 Jim, the radiator should have an easy job cooling the water a filled block holds, hopefully it's not way overfull, whats the temp of the water going in and coming out of the radiator?

I checked the fan to radiator spacing and it was 3-4 inches,so I put in a spacer and am going to see if it helps.If so then I will get a shroud.Glen,there is a good difference between the lower hose and the top,I don't have a temp gun to give a # but,tonight after I get to work I will put a thermometer in the water to get an actual reading.My guages are autogage and I question there accuracy.

It still runs really hot.I forgot the thermometer,but there is a drastic difference between the two rad hoses.I am going to take out the stat and see.I have a 440 source pump and housing,has anyone had troubles with theres?

wait...so, you forgot to take the thermometer to measure the temps? or you forgot what the temps were?

you SHOULD have a huge difference in the radiator hoses...one is hot, coming out of the engine, the other should be cold, going back into the engine.

my 440source aluminum pump housing is working fine for me.

Taking the thermostat out will only delay the warmup. I'd get a shroud for starters and then figure out how you're going to keep the oil cool if you (or the new owner) plans on driving on the street.

Not to Hi-jack the tread but it seems thier are some people on here that understands engine temp.
I have to run a Sho-Gun water manifold on my engine because of the vacum pump and mech. fuel pump. The only place I can find to put the water temp. sending unit is on the side of the block in the block drain hole. Is this good enought to get a accuate or a lest close to accuate reading?THANKS

This is what I did this morning,changed the oil,15-40 delo,7 qrts.Drained the rad and the block,ran water through them till it was all clear,then let it sit and did it again.Took the 160 stat out and took it apart and reinstalled it.Put in anti freeze and water,ran it for about 10 minutes in the driveway,temp was 150,without the cap on,I'm not seeing any circulation,stock rad.3 core.The mechanical temp is installed in the water pump.There is still a big diff in temp between the rad hoses.Would it be more consistant running a ristrictor instead of a stat?

Well the weather has been crap,so I have'nt driven it to see what the cooling system is doing,but I did find the two piece metal shroud this morning,but now I can't find the mounts.