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Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440?
Posted By: drag440
Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/20/10 02:28 AM
I am getting ready to build a rat rod and will be using a 1938 Dodge fire truck grill shell. I have the radiator that came with it and it looks real good. Will this rad. cool a 500 hp 440 if I have it cleaned and checked out?
Posted By: 36PLYM
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/21/10 01:08 AM
NO!
Posted By: drag440
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/21/10 03:03 AM
Thats too bad.It would have saved me a lot of money
Posted By: Waynes48
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/21/10 04:37 AM
I'm pretty sure the radiators of that era were not designed for pressurized service. I know for a fact that radiators for a 1948 Plymouth were of a "honeycomb" design, and would not withstand any pressure. They were adequate for the original engines, but not for an engine of that size. It's very, very doubtful it would be adequate for your needs. Better to find a replacement new radiator that will fit.
Posted By: drag440
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/22/10 02:14 AM
Thanks for the info. It is a honeycomb radiator. I figured it would not do the job, but it is very tall and thick and in good shape so I thought maybe.
Posted By: 73b3challenger
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/22/10 02:25 AM
well i have a 1941 dodge truck whit a 340cu and am using a honey cone rad it work great keep the engine cool .it never over flo or over heated . You can try it you have nothing to lose.
Posted By: RodStRace
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/22/10 02:59 AM
I plan on using the stock honeycomb for my 5.2L magnum, and the radiator guy said it should be fine for a 318. The old flatheads got pretty hot around the exhaust ports.
However, a 440 is bigger, cutting down on airflow even more, plus it's going to develop more heat. I'd really suggest getting a radiator that is designed for the heat load and the airflow.
Posted By: ekim
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/22/10 10:12 AM
Posted By: Firepowerflyer
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/23/10 04:37 PM
I have a 36 dodge with a healthy 440 I used the stock upper and lower tanks and had it recored locally.That being said you still can't run a high pressure cap,I think a 7lb cap max.I have a mechanical fan with a pusher in front.It cools ok on the freeway but in traffic it will boil over,so I have the pusher to overcome that and has not overheated yet.I've had in nonstop bumper to bumper in temps in the 90s with no issue.If I was to do it again I would bite the bullet and buy a walker.
Joe
Posted By: earlymopar
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 09/24/10 02:02 PM
I did not have a stock radiator to rebuild in doing my 37' Dodge. I also felt and feel that most of the aftermarket radiators that are made for 30's era cars are way over-priced even though they are good products.
I bought a $180 aluminum cross-flow radiator (summit or others), turned it 90 degrees to fit my narrow grill shell and radiator support, plugged the existing inlets and outlets and added an inlet and outlet in the upper and lower radiator hoses. Works great.
- EM
Posted By: moprod
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/04/10 07:20 PM
Got a Aluminum radiator in my '35, new water pump, new 180 thermo and mine still runs warmer than I like.
Yesterday, 55 degree weather on the interstate running 195, stop in traffic goes to 210.
Have no room for a factory type fan, only using electric puller set to kick on at 185.
I have an electric gauge wondering if a mechanical would read different, car shows no signs of overheating?
Posted By: poorboy
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/05/10 05:20 AM
I have to wonder how congested it is under your hood. For the cooling system to function, air that passes through the rad has to be able to exit from under the hood. Many guys close up most of the air exit routes with street rods. When the flathead 6 was there, air exited around the sides of the engine, through the louvers on the inner fender panels, and under the floor around the bell housing. When you fill those areas with V8 engine, headers, brake boosters, and remove the louvered inner panels, you leave little room for the heated are to exit.Look for ways to improve air flow through the engine compartment.
Also, over heating on the highway can be caused by a lean engine, too advanced timing, or moving the coolant through the system too quickly. Could be a defective gauge but really, 210 is not overheating, water boils at 212 and if its under pressure like in a closed cooling system, that boiling point can be as high as 250. It may be higher then you (and I) would like, but not hot enough to damage the engine. How does it do when it gets hot outside, or driven around town? Gene
Posted By: moprod
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/05/10 02:00 PM
Gene, in the summer when temps were in the 90's it still ran the same temps.
The louvered inner fenders are still in the car also.
Posted By: 36PLYM
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/06/10 04:18 AM
I also have an aluminum radiator in the 36, the small block does fill up the engine bay. I had a problem with the fan coming on at 220, engine temp. Moved the fan switch from the radiator to the intake. Now it comes on at 200 and off around 190, no more dieseling and seems to be cooler all around.
Posted By: 4woody
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/06/10 09:51 PM
Quote:
I did not have a stock radiator to rebuild in doing my 37' Dodge. I also felt and feel that most of the aftermarket radiators that are made for 30's era cars are way over-priced even though they are good products.
I bought a $180 aluminum cross-flow radiator (summit or others), turned it 90 degrees to fit my narrow grill shell and radiator support, plugged the existing inlets and outlets and added an inlet and outlet in the upper and lower radiator hoses. Works great.
- EM
Got a photo? You plugged the existing inlet/outlet and then put new ones into the tank??
Just want to understand what all you did.
Thanks
Posted By: earlymopar
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/07/10 02:09 PM
I don't have a picture but yes, I trimmed-off and plugged the original inlet and outlets. The new inlet and outlet are separate pieces that fit in the upper and lower radiator hoses. You can buy these pieces from Summit or Jegs.
Posted By: fstfish66
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/15/10 06:56 AM
Quote:
I don't have a picture but yes, I trimmed-off and plugged the original inlet and outlets. The new inlet and outlet are separate pieces that fit in the upper and lower radiator hoses. You can buy these pieces from Summit or Jegs.
you say they fit in the hoses,,,,did you open up the tanks and put the inlets where you needed them ??and reweld ?
Posted By: earlymopar
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/17/10 05:52 AM
Sorry in my haste I mis-spoke / mis-typed. I left the inlet and outlets as they came on the radiator but cut-off and plugged the filler neck that was located on top/side. That was replaced by one that fits in-line in the upper radiator hose between the radiator and manifold. I used a similar unit in the lower hose that allows me to drain the radiator.
Posted By: fstfish66
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 10/18/10 12:53 AM
Quote:
Sorry in my haste I mis-spoke / mis-typed. I left the inlet and outlets as they came on the radiator but cut-off and plugged the filler neck that was located on top/side. That was replaced by one that fits in-line in the upper radiator hose between the radiator and manifold. I used a similar unit in the lower hose that allows me to drain the radiator.
ok that makes sense now i can picture it
Posted By: 49wayfarer
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 11/15/10 01:33 AM
So then I take it a 49 Dodge radiator won't work for a big block. I figured it wouldn't, and I won't be running the fan, will be using an electric pusher.
Posted By: earlymopar
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 11/15/10 03:38 PM
Pusher fans usually end up causing more problems than they solve given that they block the ability for air to flow into the radiator.
- EM
Posted By: fstfish66
Re: Will a 38 Dodge radiator cool a 440? - 11/26/10 07:06 AM
i have found that a mechincal fan works better,even in the tightest places,,or an electric puller that has a built in shroud,,or make a shroud.,,,,do a search on the H A M B ive seen some clever home made fan shrouds