Heat, heat and more heat!!

[DocDirk]

Originally Posted by vector1

imo

usually 40mph+ should be driveable without fan running.

your cooling fins are not plugged, you can see clearly through the cooling tubes?

using a shroud on your cooling fan?

radiator ducted to front opening?

air as much as possible removed from cooling system?

bypass hose used or holes drilled in thermostat?

air moving through the radiator must have someplace to escape to, preferably lower pressure area, such as wheel wells. is your engine bay sealed off from the wheel wells keeping the air from moving freely through the radiator? especially if you have a hood scoop and are pressurizing the engine bay.

overflow hose routed to bottom of overflow tank so when coolant is evacuated it will be recovered?

thermostat in good working order?

just some things to think about. hth

Thermostat is in good working order (pro quality 3 months old)

Overflow hose is routed to bottom of an overflow tank. Come to think of it I haven't been making sure the overflow tank has fluid in it before a drive. I will from now on.

I have a very large hood scoop but don't expect it to help me much with ventilating the engine compartment. Wheel wells are open for airflow. The engine compartment has been criticized by others on this forum as poorly designed for exit air flow.

I have burped the cooling system as much as I can and refilled it until it won't take any more...

Tom - my Coolflex hoses won't allow me to burp the system by compression...maybe I should find a hill and park it facing uphill?....

The radiator is not shrouded to the front opening, I wasn't sure that would make a lot of difference, does it?

Tom - Yes, the plate is there behind the water pump...checked that after you responded to another post with that information, thank you

I have not drilled holes into my thermostat.... should I?

Signed......frustrated in Krazyfornica

Thanks!

Dirk

[Steve Gallegos]

Dirk, one thing that might be happening is that your water pump is too good, I tried a new 3200 cfm fan and it did not change a thing, my temp still ran at 220. The pump is pulling the water through the radiator so fast that it doesn't have time to cool. That's what happened to me. I took out my thermostat and replaced it with a restrictor washer, I used the medium ring. Temp now runs between 180 and 190 even in 100+ heat. I have a Backdraft, I got the part from Reg at Backdraft. If you go to the Knotts cobra meet this Saturday 4-25, go to the Backdraft display and talk to Reg, I'll be there Saturday after 9AM also, or you can find him at www.backdraftracing.com Good luck Steve

[DocDirk]

Steve, I don't know, you might be onto something there.... My water pump was rated at 20% over stock output by the engine builder who installed it. I also have a March pulley on it which is smaller than the crank pulley, meaning it's overdriven and puts out even more water (WPM? LOL)

I have nothing to lose, I'll search for the part - what might it be known as? Water flow restrictor? Thermostat replacement restrictor washer?

Does anyone know how important shrouding the front of the radiator is?

Dirk