427 engine Temperature.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Automan

OK, so again, i have a 427 centeroiler with solid lifters, 2-650cfm carbs. currently it has 370miles on it. I have a 160 degree thermostat. I have an aluminum rad ( same as Rosco)

What i am finding is that the engine temperature takes only a couple of blocks to get to 170 degrees. I have my fans running right from startup because they are manually controled. Now i only have 2 electric fans from finsihline on the front of the rad pushing air through. there is about 1.5 inches of space between the rad and fans.

So after about 2 miles i am at 190 degrees. Now going down the highway at 65 miles i stay at 190 degrees. But in a stop and go situation i am climbing to 230 degrees. Now i have never allowed it to go over that because i either head back to the nearest highway or stretch run or stop at the nearest
Tim Hortons for a coffee and wait for it to cool down. Last night after a 10 mile run i pulled into the garage at 230 degrees. Even the hood rod is hot when setting it in place. I left my fans on when i shut off the car and cooled down the water in the rad. I would start it up and bring down the temperature allowing the cooled water in the rad to enter the engine and replace the rad with hot water then shutting it off again. Kept doing it untill i got it back to 180. Took three rad fills.

I know this isn't right. Mind you it has been high ninties here in Ontario lately.

Regardless of engine size and type, the pusher fans are almost useless on the front, especially if there are 1.5 inches from the radiator and have no shroud....you just as soon take them off, they are not doing you any good....one good (curved blade) electric puller fan from 17 to 19 inches in diameter will keep your motor closer to the temps it needs to be....
I have a 351-W in a 65 Fastback and run one 19 inch puller fan with a shroud and can and do the Forth of July parade in 100 degree heat, idling for 45 to 60 minutes and my temp stays on 180 (180 thermostat) for the first 30 minutes or so, then gradually creeps up, so far it has never exceeded 195 after one hour of idling in 100 degree heat....most of the times it will not exceed 190, once back on the open road, it drops to 180 in less than one mile.....My electric fan is on a toggle switch and if I'm on the highway, I never have to turn it on.... as long as my speed is about 40 mph or more, the temp never gets above 180.....Your problems lie with your fan system and also the 160 thermostat....run the 180 with a couple of small holes in it and you'll be fine..........
Been there, done that......took me three radiators and three fans to figure it out............

David