Too HOT or not ?

HELP !!! PLEASE HELP!! I am at my wits end. I have a newly built 347 that it seems hard to keep cool. The car runs great in 60-70 degree weather. However, the other day it was 85 and my car was running about 220 degrees with the ac on. This was while sitting in traffic. It still runs about 195-210 when going down the interstate on a warm day. I have made many changes but nothing seems to help. I have a large 3 core aluminum radiator, 160 degree thermostat, the newest Black Magic Extreme electric cooling fan which is supposed to pull 3300cfm compared to the standard black magic fan (#175) which pulls 2800 cfm. I don't think the water pump has anything to do with it as water seems to flow good through the radiator. I am leaning towards the fact that maybe there just isn't enough air getting through the front of the car. Can the condenser and a transmission cooler which is mounted infront of the radiator obstruct that much air and does the heat from the condenser and tranny cooler prevent the radiator from working properly? I have thought of pulling the condensor and just hanging the tranny cooler to see if that improves things. I have heard that the aftermarket condensor is smaller and about half as thick as the stocker, maybe that would help. I am also considering an aftermarket hood to help let some of the hot air escape. I just installed a cobra grille insert thinking that may allow more airflow. It didn't help sitting still the other day, not sure about how it will help on the interstate. Lastly, I had heard that the aluminum radiators look nice but don't cooler any better than a good 3 core copper radiator. I'm dreading the 100 degree days we sometimes get her in South Carolina. Could it be that the motor only has about 2500 miles on it and it is still tight and being broken in? Any reason strokers would run hotter? Didn't really have this problem with the 5.0 and the electric cooling fan. ANY suggestions would help. Thanks to all.

You installed a 160 stat, your cars runs above that.... so the stat never has a chance to CLOSE and COOL the fluid.

Try a 180-185 stat and check the stat in a pot of water on the stove before you install in.
[addsig]

Your problem is not enough air flow still. A Junk yard Mark VIII fan will take care of it. I got mine for $30. They move between 4,000 and 4,500 cfm depending on year. Any 93-98 will work.

http://members.tccoa.com/392bird/markviii.htm

I am running a 3500 rpm converter, and have 2 trans coolers in front of the radiator, and have never seen more than 185 engine temp and 195 trans temp.




[addsig]

Check timing and air/fuel ratio.
[addsig]

You should also check the accuracy of your temp gauge. Mine was 12* off. In a pot of boiling water, it read 221*. It should have read 209* at my alitude.

If you have the condensor and tranny cooler stacked in front of the radiator, that will diminish the efficiency of it too.

What radiator do you have again? I have never run across a 3 row aluminum radiator. I have a 2 row with 1.25" cores (compared to 1&quot[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] and I have no problems keeping my 460 cool.

Basically, it sounds like you're having air flow problems.

Have a good day!
Michael
[addsig]

I failed to mention also that I put in autometer temp gauge on a pillar pod to get a more accurate reading. I also checked the temp at the thermostat housing using an infrared type device and found it is within about 3-4 degrees of what the gauge is reading. Water temp is about 204-206 entering the upper hose and about 176 exiting back into the motor(at the lower hose). I also have a granetelli aluminum radiator that is 3" thick with Double rows(not 3 rows like I thought) and they have extruded 1.25" cores. Any more suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: schmidtae on 5/31/05 2:49am ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: schmidtae on 5/31/05 2:50am ]</font>

Run no less than a 180, preferably a 195 t-stat and see how it acts with that.
[addsig]

make sure you've gotten all the air out of your cooling system - that can make the engine run a lot hotter than it should.