Cooling a 460/Head Gaskets

[wizard]

Garage10

The Radiator actually did not solve my problem but with the matching shroud and Spal fans, I actually wound up with it not being able to run over 160 even in 90 deg weather. I also think that changing the expansion tank helped a some as well. Mine was high in and high out so had a custom one made hi in and low out. This insures air gets trapped where it should. (Interestingly enough, I saw another WC Cobra at the Woodward cruise in and he had Verns tank plumbed correctly.) Since I added the new fans and tank at the same time, I can't be totally sure which helped the most. With the new tank I was able to add about a half gallon more water which tells me I still had a lot of air despite all of the other "tricks" I had used to get rid of it. But I think the fans did most of the work and here's why I say that.

I smoke but not in the house. One morning last winter I stepped out in shirt sleeves in 16 deg weather and was still quite comfortable. No wind. Several mornings later, the temp was about 35 but with 10-15 mph winds. Froze my butt off. Does this make my point?

I've since added a 180 thermostatic switch to cycle the fans and she sits at 180 all day long regardless of outside temp and we saw temps over 100 for about a two week stretch here in Ga this summer.

I've want to respond to this thread, but in a manner that educational which draws it out. I won't say I'm an expert now, but I have learned an awful lot and I can tell you I KNOW which solutions are good and which are Urban legends. I also understand the physics of cooling now but don't want to start a thread which begins an endless discussion over which way is better, such as should you use a high flow water pump or not. (OK Just for giggles, a high flow water pump is definitely the better way to go.)

Send me an email and I'll give you my phone number if you want to discuss it in depth. I'm on East coast time.

By the way, my 460 runs noticeably stronger at 180 than 210 which is probably where it was designed to run. (Mine is a 1971 block.)