overheating 427 sideoiler

[steve meltzer]

Spent a bunch of time speaking with Bill Parham at Southern, and with Louis there as well. Obviously, Southern knows their engines and with my meager knowledge, I came away learning a bunch. I have spoken with Bill and Louis several times over the 18 months; from ordering the SO, to getting it up and running, and have always found them to be very willing to help in any way possible and to be concerned and interested in every aspect of the process. Anyhow, the take home messages for me were.

1) These engines produce a lot of heat and therefore it is imperative that the cooling process begin reasonably soon, and not when the engine water temp is already in the 180° range. Therefore, in warm climes, like Houston, they install a water restrictor in the surge tank neck, and only recommend a 160 t-stat if you live in the colder parts of the country. That wasn't my problem, but that change would probably help me a little as well.

2) Bill recommended a manual override on the Spal puller fan, instead of letting it come on via the thermostat at 180 or 190°, again, if the water is already at 180° before any coolng begins, it is harder to get it to maintain a reasonable temp.

3) He likes at least a 19-20# cap, and when he was involved in racing these 427s, they ran 26#.

4) His acid test for good airflow is: With the car warmed up to operating temperature, ambient temp around 75° and cruising at 2500-3000 RPMS, the water temp should be 80-92°C.