Gathering Running temp facts

[Steve R]

Gents,
I would like to take a poll of the running temperatures of cobras equipped with FE engines. The intent is to look at how our cars cool on hot days in stop and go traffic. This info will help establish reasonable cooling system goals and provide insight into what works and what does not.

The following info would be really helpful if you wish to go beyond the basic poll:
1) sustainable temperature
2) Ambient air temp at time of observed behavior
3) Brand of Cobra
4) Overbore of engine block, if any
5) Thermostat temp rating
6) type of fan(s) used, brand and diameter
7) shroud or no shroud
8) brand/ type of radiator
9) approx horse power of engine if known

[Steve R]

I will post the details on my car when I get the engine running with it's new aluminum heads. Hopefully this week
Steve

[CJ428CJ]

1. No more than 195 as I idled in 99 degree heat for 1-1/2 hours during the Hot August Nights parade through downtown Reno.
2. 99 degree ambient
3. ERA
4. 428 bored 0.030
5. 180 deg thermostat
6. One puller fan and two pusher fans. Sorry, don't know the diameter off the top of my head.
7. Only shroud is the one built into the puller fan.
8. Four row cross flow aluminum radiator.
9. Approximately 490 hp.

[REDSC400]

1) sustainable temperature = 195F is the higest I have observed after coming off high speed turnpike run and in slow traffic. All fans on reduced that temp pretty quickly.
2) Ambient air temp at time of observed behavior = 89 F est
3) Brand of Cobra = ERA - of course! 1992 vintage
4) Overbore of engine block, if any = +.030 FE 428 PI
5) Thermostat temp rating = 180 with one hole drilled per ERA directions
6) type of fan(s) used, brand and diameter = 1 Puller 16" and two pushers at aprox 10" each or so, the typical Cobra pushers
7) shroud or no shroud = built in shroud for the puller but not much of one, it pretty much holds the fan motor actually...
8) brand/ type of radiator = the ERA brand used in 1992 It is brass and not their newer aluminum one they are using now
9) approx horse power of engine if known = 420 HP at rear wheels

I use Prestone at -40F with Redline water wetter. I have March overdrive billet pulleys on the water pump and the front crank if that means anything?

[A Cobra guy]

Steve,
I just responded to the poll with a temp range of 210 -220.
The poll question did not mention you wanted to know only about FE engines. Mine is a EFI 302. It normally runs at 200-210 and can go up a bit sitting at a light on a hot day.
Harvey R

[rob frink]

..........

[steve meltzer]

) sustainable temperature....95-100C
2) Ambient air temp at time of observed behavior....96F
3) Brand of Cobra..Kirkham
4) Overbore of engine block, if any....427S0 .020 over
5) Thermostat temp rating....either 160 with 3 1/4" holes or restrictors, doesn't matter
6) type of fan(s) used, brand and diameter...16" Cooling Components puller with modified shroud (??? causing loss of theoretic effeciency) + 2 typical aux pushers. Previous Kirkham supplied Spal was at least this good, maybe better.
7) shroud or no shroud..see #6 (shroud had to be cut to fit the lower rad hose)
8) brand/ type of radiator....Kirkham provided.
9) approx horse power of engine if known....500HP


thanx for this interesting and timely post.