j57little
Member
I have owned four Coronets in my lifetime; a 66, 67, 68 and 71, with engines from 318 to 440. Overheating was always something to watch for, especially on the BB's and RB's.
I currently have a 66 Coronet/361 with a 22-inch radiator and stock fan with about a 1.5 inch extension (no shroud on this 66). The car overheats at low speed and high speed. I tried a new thermostat and not only did it still overheat, the old return hose blew. I replaced the hoses (upper and lower - with spring) and replaced the water pump. No more leaks, but same overheating problem. After 20 miles I am making lots of steam - the 50/50 water and anti-freeze type.
I tried an aftermarket aluminum 2 core radiator with dual 10" fans and shroud pulling air in at about 5400 cfm. The aluminum radiators are supposed to be more efficient than original brass and the air flow should be more than adequate, but it still overheats! My 361 does have a four barrel aftermarket carb, but when the only thing left is figuring that I might have a lean fuel mixture, well, things are bad at that point. It's not like I am saving any fuel by running lean - it definitely suffers on gas mileage. I am running about 97 octane, but I wouldn't think that's an issue.
I am thinking about removing the thermostat entirely. And I am thinking that a 22 inch radiator was probably barely adequate for a 361, but when I add a four barrel and make more power, I also make more heat and I might be overtaxing the 22-inch. I may need a 26 inch, but then the front wall will block two inches of the radiator on each side, so I gain only fluid quantity.
Any thoughts are appreciated!!!!
I currently have a 66 Coronet/361 with a 22-inch radiator and stock fan with about a 1.5 inch extension (no shroud on this 66). The car overheats at low speed and high speed. I tried a new thermostat and not only did it still overheat, the old return hose blew. I replaced the hoses (upper and lower - with spring) and replaced the water pump. No more leaks, but same overheating problem. After 20 miles I am making lots of steam - the 50/50 water and anti-freeze type.
I tried an aftermarket aluminum 2 core radiator with dual 10" fans and shroud pulling air in at about 5400 cfm. The aluminum radiators are supposed to be more efficient than original brass and the air flow should be more than adequate, but it still overheats! My 361 does have a four barrel aftermarket carb, but when the only thing left is figuring that I might have a lean fuel mixture, well, things are bad at that point. It's not like I am saving any fuel by running lean - it definitely suffers on gas mileage. I am running about 97 octane, but I wouldn't think that's an issue.
I am thinking about removing the thermostat entirely. And I am thinking that a 22 inch radiator was probably barely adequate for a 361, but when I add a four barrel and make more power, I also make more heat and I might be overtaxing the 22-inch. I may need a 26 inch, but then the front wall will block two inches of the radiator on each side, so I gain only fluid quantity.
Any thoughts are appreciated!!!!