Phoenix440
Well-Known Member
Thought I would share some possbly helpful info about my hot running 440.
I previously posted a thread about how to try to keep my engine from running so hot.
I had quite a few responses and some good suggestions.
I tried some of these ideas but couldn't really see any improvement( water and water wetter only in radiator, checked water pump impeller hadn't slipped, new distributor with vacuum advance, removed rubber seal from rear of engine bay and tilted bonnet to try and remove some hot engine bay air , new 160 hi po thermostat, added spring to lower radiator hose.
Turns out the head gaskets weren't sealing ( i did a combustion test when i first looked a the car, but seems I didnt wait long enough to get a correct result and fears were confirmed on a later test).
I ended up doing a full top end rebuild and the car was much better but still running 210 on freeway ( used to be 230 in summer, average of 86f ambient). I had to run thermo fans on freeway to keep car at 210 even with new head gaskets.
I Finally tried something I always thought would help but didnt think it would have such an effect.( hadn't tried as was always going to be a big job).
I removed the auto trans cooler and mounted a new unit with thermo fan under the left guard.
The engine radiator now has a full blast of air across it, instead of a third of the cooling area having hot trans cooler air going through it.
The car runs 18 degrees cooler on the freeway at least, and only goes above 200 when I shut it down and restart within 5 minutes.
It is now driveable in traffic( doesnt go above 180) and sits around 190 on the freeway.
Thought this could help someone out there to see how much temp drop can be gained by removing an auto cooler in front of the radiator.
I previously posted a thread about how to try to keep my engine from running so hot.
I had quite a few responses and some good suggestions.
I tried some of these ideas but couldn't really see any improvement( water and water wetter only in radiator, checked water pump impeller hadn't slipped, new distributor with vacuum advance, removed rubber seal from rear of engine bay and tilted bonnet to try and remove some hot engine bay air , new 160 hi po thermostat, added spring to lower radiator hose.
Turns out the head gaskets weren't sealing ( i did a combustion test when i first looked a the car, but seems I didnt wait long enough to get a correct result and fears were confirmed on a later test).
I ended up doing a full top end rebuild and the car was much better but still running 210 on freeway ( used to be 230 in summer, average of 86f ambient). I had to run thermo fans on freeway to keep car at 210 even with new head gaskets.
I Finally tried something I always thought would help but didnt think it would have such an effect.( hadn't tried as was always going to be a big job).
I removed the auto trans cooler and mounted a new unit with thermo fan under the left guard.
The engine radiator now has a full blast of air across it, instead of a third of the cooling area having hot trans cooler air going through it.
The car runs 18 degrees cooler on the freeway at least, and only goes above 200 when I shut it down and restart within 5 minutes.
It is now driveable in traffic( doesnt go above 180) and sits around 190 on the freeway.
Thought this could help someone out there to see how much temp drop can be gained by removing an auto cooler in front of the radiator.
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