454 temperature management

My toy is a 1971 LS5 roadster. Those big block are real nice but the heat management is very poor. Usually it stays around 210/220.
I live - and I drive - in Florida. Those days were somewhat hot and my baby does not like it. The temperature gauge goes to the edge of the red zone.
Some guy I met told me that the radiator was undersized (which I tend to agree) since it is the same that the the one that goes with the 350. He also said that there is nothing I can do but to install a custom made radiator and an electric fan (I bet it would improve the situation).
Does someone have experience in this field? Reading through the chats I on this site, I decided to test a 50/50 mix of 93 and 100 octans: The engine runs smooth indeed. Do you think it has something to do with overheating?

Wow, a 454 C3 in Florida, I'd save up the bucks and go straight for an aluminum radiator and an electric fan!!

Keeping a 350/350 down to a warm level in Wisconsin is hard enough!!



|UPDATED|6/17/2003 1:13:25 AM|/UPDATED|

I don't have a big-block, but I have a '69 with an aluminum radiator and dual electric fans from a '96. There is an article on this online from one of the magazines, I think if you will search on "Big Block From Hell" you will find the article. It looks great and works great. I have a '91 tuned-port in mine so I let the computer switch one of the fans and a temp switch in the head run the other. It never gets much over 200 in traffic with the air on running a 195 thermostat. I don't think the second fan has ever needed to come on. You don't have to cut anything up for this swap.

If you're in Florida, you don't have to worry about freezing. Try running ionized (distilled) water and then add a bottle of wetter water. The wetter water and distilled water will help prevent corrosion. Water alone cools much better than an anti-freeze/water mixture. I also feel that you will probably need an aluminum radiator, but you can try this first. Wetter water costs about $10.00 per bottle.

Mark

Thank you Guys for your feed back. I am sure an aluminum performance radiator with (at least one) electric fan would do the job. I realized I am missing the lower portion of the shroud. I don't know how big the impact is. I will first fix it, then I will consider swapping for an aluminum radiator. I found one on the Eckler's web site at $650. Does it sound right to you?

Thank you Mark,

What is wetter water? Where can I get some?

I agree! i want to know bout this wetter water too my baby has been running around 200-210 when it's hot and i've been getting on her

that piece of missing shroud will make a big difference also make shure your seals are in place for the rad and shroud.............stay cool also there is a small air dam under the car that people engore this pushes the air into the radiator make shure its not missing or broke

Do a site search for wetter water and you should find some info about it. I tried it. I made a very slight difference, but it is not the ultimate fix.

I have a Griffin aluminum radiator, I think I bought it direct. It was closer to $500 about 2 years ago. I think the shroud will definately be required to cool well in traffic. I assume you have probably already looked at the fan clutch to be sure it is not worn out.