A-Body Race Only Radiator Suggestions.

Well,

I dropped a pair of needle nose pliers and ruined my radiator. I was using a 2 row Northern 28 x 19 radiator with a single 16" fan.

The part number on the old Northern radiator was # 9602P. It does not cross to anything, but looks to be identical to the new model # 209672. Northern 209672

Since I have to replace the radiator anyway, I was looking on suggestions on a possible replacement for this one. I find that in hot weather, I am having to run the fan in the staging lanes to cool it down. At the end of a pass I am at 220 or so until I kick on the fan. It cools down fairly quickly, but I would prefer not to have to run the fan if I can avoid it. I run an electric water pump, and use a 16v system with no alternator.

Engine is a low deck 496 that is hard blocked with INDY aluminum heads. A-Body running a 4 speed, so I don't need tranny cooler lines.

What are you using in yours, and are you happy with it?

-Dave

wizard 22 inch radiator

keeps my hemi around 165 degrees all the time

220 at the end of a pass?..........what in the world temp do you start at?

Monte

Monte,

The last pass I videoed I came out of the water box at about 190. I had to wait for a car in the other lane to be pushed out before I did my burnout. Kicked the fan in but it was for about 1 min before I hit the water box.

Once it heats up it takes a while to cool it down. After the pass I kick on the fan while coasting down and it is usually down to 190 or so by the time I get back to the pits. With the fan and water pump running it is down to 140 or so within a few minutes after I shut the engine down.

Water pump is a CSR.

-Dave

Why do you choose to race it so hot?

Monte

Not a choice Monte,

By the time I drive to the line and get to the burnout box it is pretty hot. I generally try to run it as little as possible before I get to the line. The last race had pretty cool weather, and I still ended up running the fan a bit before I got to the box.

Would prefer to launch at 170 or so.

Thinking about a larger radiator to give me more capacity without having to run the fan. The other thing I have been thinking about is running dual fans with a shroud. I suspect though that I would need some type of trap doors to allow airflow while at speed. Trapping right now near 140. Fan is a 16" in front of the radiator set up as a pusher.

Could be I don't have enough flow with the current water pump.. May have to investigate that as well.

I run the exact same fan and radiator in my 51 Belvedere on the street here in Texas with an iron headed 451 and it stays cool. It is running a stock water pump and it is not hard blocked though.

-Dave

Are you shutting the fan off during the run?

Yes, I shut off the fan just before the burnout box. At the end of the run I kick the fan back on. Once I shut down at the trailer I leave the fan and water pump back on until the gauge goes back down to the bottom (140 deg)

-Dave

I have been running the Summit 26" but not sure on depth this second and along w/an HHR fan/shroud combo,it keeps my big block pretty cool on the streets and no problems ever at the track. I also wonder as Monte does about the starting temps being that high. I always drive my car around the pits or side road to get it up to about 170-180 then let it heat sink, cool down a bit then get in line but we all know what you mean about not having control over situations. A few on here drive/race w/the combo I mentioned w/great results.

I stage @ 170. All the tracks around here have a curfew, hence, you have around 10 minutes by the round robin quarters. I choose to strategise, rather than frantically trying to cool down, for the next round

U can not push air through a rad. U need a puller fan with a shroud. The shroud helps speed up the air flow through the rad. I use a wizard, a-body with their shroud with 4 8" pullers. Engine temp never goes over 190. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it for my engine.

I have been using a stock one from an E body, I think. It is okay but I get a little uncomfortable when the temp starts to get to 200* and climbs a little. Been launching at 160*. No shroud, just a 16" puller fan and tranny cooler. I know not much help but I wanted to hear other suggestions also.

As mentioned, that "pusher" fan is a problem, but still I can't imagine why it gets so hot going from the trailer to the lanes. And during the run itself, if it gains 30*, from 190 to 220.........it just shouldn't do that, full of hardblock or not.

Monte

Why are you shutting the fan off during the run? To me thats part of the problem if not all of it.

Outlaw, I will give it a try and run it, but remember I run a 16v system with no alternator. There are times when we get down into the semi's that I don't have much time to charge the battery.

I have a friend that runs the same setup with the same engine and he has no overheating problems.

Maybe I have a water flow problem. I may need to recheck my pump rotation. That CSR Pump is a bear to prime after I drain the radiator. Not sure if the impeller is unidirectional or not but I will check it.

I have a thermostat with the center section removed to add some restriction, but the inlet on these CSR Pumps is only 3/4" and they list them as 35 to 37gpm. Should be more than enough to cool it as long as I have water flow.

The radiator I am using is a cross flow design.

-Dave

Have you checked the calibration of your temp gauge?

What about a dual pass radiator? I plan on upgrading to one in my car once I get the car back together. I have heard they can drop temps up to 20*, a friend of mine runs one in his car, and he says his car never gets over 180*, even with back to back runs.

The rad should have PLENTY of air flow running down the track, fan or not. Plus, if your car won't run 10-12 seconds without getting hot with no fan.........there is another issue.

Monte

I was having problems on the street, this thread helped me alot, I installed a better shroud with the fan properly placed, partially into the shroud opening, so far it's been running 170 degrees, if it creeps to 180 or so in traffic I turn on the 16" pusher electric fan and temp comes back down, I only use it sitting at long traffic lights or traffic jams.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...ing-system.html