• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

How do you cool your big block with a 22" radiator??

65belv

Well-Known Member
Local time
1:14 PM
Joined
Dec 17, 2010
Messages
112
Reaction score
9
Location
Pacific Northwest
Upgraded the old 65 Belvedere with a 440 instead of the 318 and upgraded the radiator from a 2 row to a 4 row. Moving along on the highway is no problem at 190 but when you get off after a lengthy high speed run it is getting way too hot for my liking. The temperature gauge is reading 230+ and the factory gauge is at the top line+ of the operating range. It does the same thing with or without a thermostat so what are you guys doing that works to keep your big blocks cool at low speed?????? Any feedback is appeciated.

Arland
 
Last edited:
I'd probably go with a bigger aluminum radiator with duel electric fans. Or crank the heat on in the summer...lol
 
Forgot to mention - factory metal shroud with fan blade less than an inch from the radiator - no fan clutch. I'm really trying to stay with a factory stock appearance in the engine compartment.
 
Perhaps not enough circulation....How old is the impeller?

I currently use a 26" aluminum radiator. I had an old stock 22" that no matter what I did I just couldn't keep it cool. It would run in the 230 range all the time no matter what.

There are a lot of people who swear Mopar knew what they were doing when they designed these things. That may be true.... But in my experience you'd never know it.
 
If the factory equipment is in good order you car should be running cooler. What water pump are you running? Also are the radiator and block's water passages nice and clear? Engine timing can cause havoc with water temperatures if it's too far off.
 
If the factory equipment is in good order you car should be running cooler. What water pump are you running? Also are the radiator and block's water passages nice and clear? Engine timing can cause havoc with water temperatures if it's too far off.


As can a lean condition.
 
Rule of thumb is 1 square inch of radiator is needed per cubic inch engine displacement. I don't think the 22" has you covered. Is it 2 or 3 row and is the engine modified any?
 
What gear ratio are you running in the rear end? I believe anything over a 3.55 the factory put a 26" in them. But I am not 100% sure on that.
 
The engine is a fresh professional build bored but not really modified, the radiator is a freshly restored 4 row, not running lean or overly timed, and the rear is high gears around 3.08 or so. I tend to agree that using stock parts should keep it under control but the 22" radiator concept for a bored 440 seems to push the limits of cooling at low speed. I'll try a pusher fan to see if it makes any difference but then a larger/better radiator seems like the best hope for acceptable cooling.
 
IMAG0282.gif


I am running a 26" aluminum 3 row (eBay -$230.00) with for now a pusher 14"fan. Still in the break in period but runs at 180 street and freeway.
 
I have the factory/stock 22-in on my 383 4-bbl 4-spd Charger; she runs cool all the time. I took the Charger to Vegas (MATS) and she ran about 190 deg on and off the freeway. I think there is something wrong with your set-up.

Dan
 
Did you use the original heads that came with the engine block? Some blocks water passages are different than the heads especially motorhome blocks. Also make sure the gasket water passages line up and are the right size. Some gaskets need to be repunched for more flow.
 
i wonder if you're getting a proper temp reading out of your sending unit with it being above the thermostat in the housing....hmmm. and is the gauge reading correctly?
 
Mine would heat up sitting in traffic and get to almost 210 and I did not like it. So I added an electric fan as a pusher on a toggle switch I turn on when needed. And I made a shroud work for it. This hot weekend at Carlisle it never went over 200 sitting in traffic for a 1/2 hr. On the highway when it was very hot it will get up to 190. I may go with an even bigger rad later but its working good enough that it does not worry me. As long as it stays about 200 or less I am happy. Ron

100_1488.jpg
 
Here is a pic of the shroud I modified. Oh and this is with my new 493 eng that seems to run about 10 degrees hotter then the old 440. Ron



100_1487.jpg
 
Nice looking! How wide is that radiator? I've had several people tell me that cross flow radiators are more efficient than down flows because the coolant stays in it longer....
 
Thank you. The rad is 26' FROM SIDE TO SIDE INCLUDING THE TANKS. tHE CORE PART IS 22" AND THAT IS THE ONE mANCINI SAYS WOULD FIT MY 63 AS IT DID. iT IS AN aFCO THAT COMES WITH THE BRACKETS ON IT. yOU JUST HAVE TO LINE IT UP AND DRILL THE HOLES IN THE BRACKET. i WENT THIS WAY BECAUSE IT WAS $350. VS $550. FOR ONE THAT BOLTS RIGHT IN. rON
 
Sorry about the cap locks as I hit it by mistake. Ron
 
Looks great 383! I'm just starting a 451 stroker build for my car that originally had a 318 with a 22" radiator. I might just go the route you did instead of up sizing my radiator to a 26".
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top