installed the f-body radiator

[peterkin]

i installed the radiator on friday when i played hookie from work. it immediately made a huge difference, until i got on the highway. idling in my parking lot it was around 165-170, but when i got on the highway it immediately went up to 190-193. i didn't understand, but then it hit me, i put a stock thermostat in the car over the winter to have heat. i took the thermostat out and had a mechanic friend grind down a 160 thermostat to fit and now the car runs very, ver cool. even with no baffle on the drivers side, and no flap between the radiator and front bumper under the bottom of the car it still runs at 171 degrees on the highway in the heat without the a/c on. if i turn the a/c on it will rise to 190 on the highway, but it's wierd, i got stuck in traffic friday after doing the 160 thermostat and the radiator and idling in traffic the temps went back down to 171 with the air on. once i got moving they rose, so i really think i need to box the radiator back in soon. the radiator dropped right in with no problems, i have an external tranny cooler so that wasn't a problem, but i did have to take the oil cooler out. all in all, i'm very, very satisfied with this radiator. YOU SHOULD DO IT TOO!

 

[EMcNeice]

I just did an f-body radiator myself and the same thing happens to me. Runs hotter at highway speeds than at idle. I think i might go with a Ramchargers fan.. that should make a nice difference but my temps still haven't gotten over 173.

 

[420]

I run the F-body rad and the ramchargers fan, and the car does not MOVE from 175ish, even with the PTE FMIC.

 

[peterkin]

TransAm...i don't know what my deal is then. i'm running the same setup, the ramchargers fan and the radiator. i don't know what it could be other than boxing in the radiator completely. do you have yours completely boxed in?

 

[gokada]

I did the fbody radiator setup too. With the same variations in temps, I put a seal between the radiator and the condensor. Also put a rubber seal between the stock fan and the radiator creating a very positive flow of air through the radiator. The last couple of days Honolulu has been in the upper 90's with the humidity factor soaring through the roof. My temps rose to about 185 tops. But the main thing was my A/C stayed burrrr cold.

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by peterkin
TransAm...i don't know what my deal is then. i'm running the same setup, the ramchargers fan and the radiator. i don't know what it could be other than boxing in the radiator completely. do you have yours completely boxed in?

If you are running a front mount put a N/A style core support air dam with holes cut for your IC pipes (and take out the baffle between the bottom of the bumper to the bottom of the core support, if it's still there)

Our 502 '86 Grand prix was overheating at 120 mph until we put a RC fan and a deep core support air dam on it. Now it stays at 160.

 

[peterkin]

do you know if i can still get one of these from a parts store or which cars i may be able to pull one from in a junkyard?

 

[420]

Originally posted by peterkin
TransAm...i don't know what my deal is then. i'm running the same setup, the ramchargers fan and the radiator. i don't know what it could be other than boxing in the radiator completely. do you have yours completely boxed in?

No, mine is not boxed in. I am also running nearly straight distilled water and an additive called "40* below", which has helped my other cars significantly. Perhaps thats the difference...

 

[Ormand]

How are you controlling the fan? Some chips turn off the fan above 35 mph, and that may be part of the increase in temp you are seeing at highway speeds.

 

[ledzeppac]

In traffic my car gets up to 205, is it time for a new thermostat?