b4ccamaro

Has anyone thought of plumbing in a second heater core or something like it to help with cooling the engine? I saw this pic on another board and i dont think he was using it for coolant. But summer is fast approaching here in Mesa, AZ. and I really would like to not worry about overheating or even getting hot if i hit a little traffic. I was thinking a heater core with an electric fan just like this guy did. Does anyone have suggestions or ideas? And where could I pick up a small electric cooling fan.

scooter500

iTrader: (1)

check out Perma-cool. They have a lot of solutions in kit form. Zirgo is another brand to compare Perma-cool against.

8t2 z-chev

I added an engine oil cooler to my car,most of the
setup was built using parts from an '83 cop impala,
the oil radiator is a stacked plate type,about 8x10",
mounted in the charcoal canister area with a thermostat
controlled electric fan(manual overide too)this setup
keeps my engine oil much cooler(i like to keep oil at
210-230*),takes a lot of heat load off the cooling system
,now is difficult to get coolant temp over 220*when
running fast on the highway in hot weather(highway
heating used to be a problem with my car in hot
weather)
The tranny cooler is about the same setup and is
mounted under the battery area.
The fans for my coolers are specially made for the
coolers,oil uses a chevy citation fan motor with deep
pitch 8" fan,tranny cooler uses a modified renault
fuego intercooler fan,has a flat type motor.
Small electric fans can be salvaged from junked
motorcycles or ATVs.

b4ccamaro

Thats great info thanks scooter. Thats where I'll start. 8t2 z, do you think the oil cooler is worth it if I already have the optional oil cooler from the factory? And the car already has a tranny cooler that was installed before I got the car.

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

B4C already have engine oil cooler...and power steering cooler, some have extra trans cooler so you don't need those....
I'd look at a better radiator...more powerfull fans....Lower temp thermostadt will help a lot...and either have computer re-burned or summit sells an adapter plug to turn fans on sooner...that'll help tons....

b4ccamaro

Hey 91, my car was an Idaho Highway Patrol car! Thats cool to see someone out there with another one. Anyway, I've started tuning the computers since last summer so thats the first thing I did was to adjust the fan "on" temps. So we'll see how that helps. Where did you get the stronger cooling fan motors? Did you have to replace more than just the motors to get them in?

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

mine is idaho state police vehicle also.....crazy....anyway..I got my fans out of junkyard out of a ford probe of all things...and they blow hard...but I don't know what year or anything about the fans I have....just got lucky....but you can get some from summit or someone like that that are aftermarket......also if you adjusted the fan temp....that was the number one thing that helped my car...make sure you have a good thermostadt...or you can use a restrictor plate instead of a thermostadt (or take the middle out of you thermostadt)...you can get those out of summit or at local parts store sometimes too....but don't run with no thermostadt.....

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

I run a Lt1 radiator with Lt1 dual fans. Also have a 160 thermostat. I have a trans cooler for my auto tranny. I have ceramic coated headers to keep the engine bay temp down.

Other ideas: Electric water pump, aftermarket radiator.

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

yes...ceramic coated headers.....I run those as well...actually My whole exhaust from headers to tail pipe is ceramic coated.....also, high flow water pump....good coolant... You could have a partially clogged radiator if it's stock....

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

also make sure you have the plastic air dam on the bottom of you car the sits below radiator to push air up into engine compartment...that's a big deal if it's missing or broke bad...

b4ccamaro

I Don't know if the radiator has been replaced or not. Yes I have the air dam and it's in good shape. Did the ceramic coated header help with cooling? If so, which headers did you go with? I'm interested in some good shorties that don't require mods to the car (other than exhaust pipes) to install. I'm going to switch to Dex Cool in the next week or so. I know it's better for the car... but wasn't expecting better cooling properties. maybe that will help. I've got a new GM 180 T-stat so I know thats in good shape.

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

I don't think dex-cool will do anything...it's used in aluminum motors to keep coolant from eating block....try putting in some 'water wetter' by redline and see what that does too. The headers did help with cooling...I almost can touch the headers with the ceramic on them while running they run so much cooler....we took a temp reading with old headers and after coating and it was a huge temp difference....can't remember the numbers just remembered it made a difference....I bought a set of cheap flowtechs and did a little modifying on them...you can pretty much bolt them up to stock exhaust minus the short pieces of head pipe you have to put on.....my friend does ceramic coatings...so I bought non-ceramic headers...then had him ceramic the headers down and the whole exhaust system...I don't use the AIR emmision tube cause I don't have emmision checks here....so you might have to buy the ones for AIR tubes if you do emmisions checks....or weld bungs for the tubes on yourself (cheaper way)...but it did help with cooling....a cowl hood might help get some of that heat out too....

b4ccamaro

I' m gonna have to bump the headers up on my priority list then if they can help with cooling and performance. Would your firend be interested in doing another pair if I sent them up to you?

Jeromey Cummins

iTrader: (5)

I actually took all the plastic covers thats in between the radiator and the nose piece off to find that it was just open space so i put an aftermarket b-cool steel fan in for extra air movement. The plastic piece on the underside of the car was in the way so i had to get rid of it, and make my own out of sheet metal. Moves a heck of a lot of air now! One problem i had with it though is that my wife pulls up to curbs to were the nose of the car actually is over the side walk. So if she goes to far, the fan will hit the side walk. Makes quiet a loud noise. It still looks great and works well though. Had a bunch of guys at a show checking it out to do the same to theres. It really works, and if you do it wright, it looks great too.
If you really want a difference, i bought a 6 cor radiator a while back, and that made a noticable difference as well. But your looking at some big money there.

b4ccamaro

Where did you get the 6 core radiator from?

Jeromey Cummins

iTrader: (5)

The radiator wa a 4 row, not a 6. Sorry bout that. I got mine from either Classic Industries,or Ecklers Camaro. Cant remember which. Ive ordered so many parts between them and Hawks, and Paddock....lol. Sorry. It had to be from Classic cause i just found my recipt for the fan.

b4ccamaro

Thanks. I'll look into it. Maybe I can get that into the budget too.

Driver59

Hey B4CCamaro, try going to Air Mobile aluminum radiators. Here's their info. 1241 E Cheryl Dr, Phoenix, AZ - (623) 931-0135 I live in Buckeye and did an engine swap in my 86 firebird and had these guys build me an AWESOME custom radiator. It definitely keeps my car cool in the AZ heat. Anyways, just thought I'd share some info

Prickly

Couple things on the cheap, I re-routed my heater hoses and bypass valve to right in front of the heater blower box, keeps them off the intake/head and being near the A/C will prolly cool them down some. Also the rubber gasket at the top of the hood that seals the opening to the cowl keeps hot air in the engine compartment-I removed it carefully to allow airflow. Another suggestion Ive heard along with a good radiator and/or intercooler is to put a puller fan in front of the radiator in addition to your stock puller fan behind it. Ive even considered a small water pump mounted fan for those days in Yuma in August LOL. Hot place, no lie. Synthetic oil and Water Wetter helps some due to the heat resistance of synthetic oils. GL