I have a 72 400 in my 69 firebird, she runs good and when just parked up running or driving around she is 180 to 190 degrees. If I am sitting in traffic it will climb to around 200 degrees and the idle gets funky, I figure this is all heat related and was wondering any suggestions. I plan on adding an extra electric fan that I can flip on when I am sitting in traffic but was wondering what others have done. Thanks for any info and look forward to hearing what others have done.
I have a 72 400 in my 69 firebird, she runs good and when just parked up running or driving around she is 180 to 190 degrees. If I am sitting in traffic it will climb to around 200 degrees and the idle gets funky, I figure this is all heat related and was wondering any suggestions. I plan on adding an extra electric fan that I can flip on when I am sitting in traffic but was wondering what others have done. Thanks for any info and look forward to hearing what others have done.
The last thing you want to do is put in a electric fan. Electric fans work great...for cars that are designed for them.
Here are some things you can do to improve the cooling in your engine.
1. Get a new fan: clutch fan or flex fan 2. Get a stock fan shroud to install 3. Has the cooling system ever been serviced? Consider flushing system 4. Take stock rad in for service: clean, check for leaks 5. Replace hoses if necessary 6. Make sure your have spring inside bottom hose to stop hose from collapsing 7. replace T-stat (summer stat) 8. install front fillers panels to channel the incoming air thru the radiator 9. install lower filler panel below radiator 10. check your water pump. Get a good stock water pump with plates 11. Always put coolant in your system (60% coolant + 40% water)
If you install stock designed parts the engine will run properly and not overheat. Some after-market parts can be used to help cool the engine. I installed an after-market flex fan and it worked really well, however, without a shroud it's much less efficient.
Aluminum rads are smaller and lighter than stock ones, however, without a shroud it work any better than your stock rad. The only situation where you might want to use an electric fan on a Pontiac big block is if your car is a restomod with no fan installed on the engine. The electric fan must be installed on the inside of the rad.
good luck
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
200 degrees in traffic is not too hot for these cast engines. above 220 then you need to worry. The dummy light does not come on until 243 ish. First when it gets hot use a thermal temperature gun to check actual temperature. Check radiator neck hose on intake, check sensor on intake. Check the temps on the upper and lower hoses. If any of that is getting up around 220-230 then we need to start doing something.
Pontiac's used 195* stats, and normal temps where 210-215. Some 220.
