Posted By: Steve Bryant
'70 Cuda Getting Warm - My strategy - Right Path? - 08/08/14 07:57 PM
It didn't seem right to hijack PossessedDuster's heating post so I wanted to start a new one to report my problem/findings. My 440 Cuda is running warm at idle and I am sure it would overheat if I let it idle for more than 10 minutes. The car stays cool if I am moving even at lower speeds but when I am at idle after some town driving the temp will continue to creep up until I intervene.
My laser temperature gauge indicates a 5-10 degree difference between the upper and lower hose at warm idle. As a test, I plan to install a solid fan this afternoon with a spacer to replace my current Viscous clutch fan. It appears to me that the fan is not moving enough air at idle. I will post the results as soon as the parts arrive and I can test.
I have E-Body non-rallye gauges so only a needle and no numbers. The needle sits at 40-50% during “normal” drive operation. In bumper-to-bumper traffic or a prolonged (+5 minutes) idle on a warm day the needle will move up to 60-70% until I get moving again. I think it would overheat if I left it at idle since the needle never stops creeping up.
440ci – Bored .30 – 6-Pack Rods forged crank
CompCams Cam:
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 int./224 exh.
Advertised Duration: 262 int./270 exh.
Lobe Separation (degrees):110
Probe Pistons, Forged, Flat
452 Ported Heads (Mopar template) backcut valves
Stock repro 26” Radiator – 3 Row/Tube– Year One
Stock Repro Shroud
Summit Racing High-Volume Iron Water Pump
Added 1973 E-Body Radiator Overflow Bottle
180 Degree thermostat
16PSI Radiator Cap
Green 50/50 Radiator Mix
Mopar Performance 18” Viscous Fan Package with Standard Duty Clutch
Fan roughly 1/2 into shroud
TEMP TEST WITH VISCOUS FAN AND STANDARD CLUTCH
--------------------------------------------------
Run car at Stop-and-Go then idle to get temperature up. Temperature will continue to rise unless I intervene.
Outside Temperature 85F
Radiator Center (taken from Front) 154F
Top Hose 200-205F
Bottom Hose 190-200F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Driver’s head (front) 220F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Passenger head (front) 230F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Gauge position 55-60% (Needle no numbers)
Radiator, thermostat, hoses, Fan, clutch, fluid, engine work, etc is 6 months old.
I will post my numbers with the solid fan sometime tonight or tomorrow.
My laser temperature gauge indicates a 5-10 degree difference between the upper and lower hose at warm idle. As a test, I plan to install a solid fan this afternoon with a spacer to replace my current Viscous clutch fan. It appears to me that the fan is not moving enough air at idle. I will post the results as soon as the parts arrive and I can test.
I have E-Body non-rallye gauges so only a needle and no numbers. The needle sits at 40-50% during “normal” drive operation. In bumper-to-bumper traffic or a prolonged (+5 minutes) idle on a warm day the needle will move up to 60-70% until I get moving again. I think it would overheat if I left it at idle since the needle never stops creeping up.
440ci – Bored .30 – 6-Pack Rods forged crank
CompCams Cam:
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 int./224 exh.
Advertised Duration: 262 int./270 exh.
Lobe Separation (degrees):110
Probe Pistons, Forged, Flat
452 Ported Heads (Mopar template) backcut valves
Stock repro 26” Radiator – 3 Row/Tube– Year One
Stock Repro Shroud
Summit Racing High-Volume Iron Water Pump
Added 1973 E-Body Radiator Overflow Bottle
180 Degree thermostat
16PSI Radiator Cap
Green 50/50 Radiator Mix
Mopar Performance 18” Viscous Fan Package with Standard Duty Clutch
Fan roughly 1/2 into shroud
TEMP TEST WITH VISCOUS FAN AND STANDARD CLUTCH
--------------------------------------------------
Run car at Stop-and-Go then idle to get temperature up. Temperature will continue to rise unless I intervene.
Outside Temperature 85F
Radiator Center (taken from Front) 154F
Top Hose 200-205F
Bottom Hose 190-200F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Driver’s head (front) 220F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Passenger head (front) 230F (+/- 5% margin due to difficult reading)
Gauge position 55-60% (Needle no numbers)
Radiator, thermostat, hoses, Fan, clutch, fluid, engine work, etc is 6 months old.
I will post my numbers with the solid fan sometime tonight or tomorrow.