Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

Cooling System Help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-11-2001, 03:17 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
91RS350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cooling System Help

I have a 91 RS with a custom built 350 in it. The engine is very similaar to the ZZ4 crate engine. I use the L98 heads which yield about 10:1 compression in my engine. I run the stock TBI system, but I have had it modified to handle the higher horsepower.

My problem is cooling in the summer here in the Phoenix. Once the outside temperature gets above the 95 degree mark, the car wants to heat up mainly when sitting in traffic. It will reach temperatures of 220-230 if I spend much time sitting at a light or moving slowly in traffic.

Here is what I have done so far to fight the problem: 4-row custom radiator, twin electric fans to replace the stock unit, low temperature fan switch (comes on at 200 degrees), additional transmission cooler.

If someone has some additional ideas, please let me know since I do not know what else to try.

------------------
Robert Scott
1991 Camaro RS 350
Best E.T. 13.86 @ 99.4 mph

[This message has been edited by 91RS350 (edited July 11, 2001).]
Old 07-11-2001, 03:20 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
 
ColinOpseth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 762
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
higher flow thermostat, remix your coolant for optimum cooling in your temperature range (above 100 degrees), make sure you have a fan spoiler

other than that, you would need to ground the fans so they run all the time, or something of that nature

------------------
Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org
Old 07-11-2001, 03:27 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member
 
RB83L69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Loveland, OH, US
Posts: 18,457
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
Car: 4
Engine: 6
Transmission: 5
Sounds pretty normal to me. It's certainly not an indication of a defect or a problem.

The stock fan switch doesn't even turn the fan on until 234° or thereabouts. I'd have a real hard time getting excited about seeing 220° on the gauge sitting still on a hot day.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports
Old 07-11-2001, 03:29 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
TGO - 10 Year Member
 
ColinOpseth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 762
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
i thoguht it was around 243.2 or something that the fans were turned on..

regardless, i don't like seeing high temps either, i'm going to put in a lower temp thermostat in my car even though it may hurt gas mileage

------------------
Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org
Old 07-11-2001, 03:31 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
91RS350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
RB83L69,

Look at my post again and you will see that I have a lower temperature switch for the fan which activates the fan at 200 degrees instead of the stock 235. Unfortunately, at 10:1 compression and 92 octane fuel, the engine starts to detonate at temperatures of about 230 degrees.

------------------
Robert Scott
1991 Camaro RS 350
Best E.T. 13.86 @ 99.4 mph
Old 07-11-2001, 10:36 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

 
steve8586iroc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: clinton,tn
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you have a stock water pump or an aftermarket pump. I've heard good things about the Stewart high flow pumps that at least double the flow of the stock pump at idle. Run as much water and as little coolant as posible maybe even all water and some water pump lube/rust inhibitor.
I have a 91RS with a manual fan switch and when the temp reaches 220 with the car idling it takes forever for the temp to come back down. I also have an 86IROC that I have manual fan switch on and when the temp reaches 220 idling the fan will bring the temp right back down to 170 fairly quick. Go figure! Both cars are stock.

Steve
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
3
12-10-2019 07:07 PM
customblackbird
Power Adders
71
10-01-2015 04:30 PM
carid
Sponsored Vendors
0
09-10-2015 09:33 AM
64goatman
Cooling
2
09-09-2015 01:09 PM
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
0
09-02-2015 07:28 PM



Quick Reply: Cooling System Help



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:43 AM.