Cooling Issue

I’ve been off the forum a long time. I finally moved my 3A with a buick 231 evenfire to Arizona. I’ve worked most the major bugs out, but one. Cooling! I used the radiator recommended on this site. I think an aluminum mustang radiator. The Jeep sat for a long time with coolant and water in it. It was getting up to around 210 idling or driving. I never let it go past. Took out thermostat, same. Put it new one same. Took out radiator and had it cleaned. Maybe a little better. But didn’t let it go too far. When I’m driving and it’s getting close to hot it pre-detonates. I’m running premium gas and 9-1 compression with 8* btc timing. No steam coming out exhaust. No water in oil. No oil in water. Electric fan on the front of radiator. I know that’s not the perfect way to do it, but that shouldn’t affect driving temp. Anyway, anything I’m missing. Could use some ideas.
Thanks, Cole

 

Faulty instrumentation? Have you double checked with a different temp gauge or infra-red thermometer?

If it's pre-detonating that is bad. You can ruin the engine if it persists. Perhaps the timing needs to be retarded, and that might run cooler? What color are the plug tips - and are they the correct heat-range?

 

I’ll pull out plugs tomorrow and check them. I’ll try to retard timing tomorrow as well. Belt is fairly tight on water pump, seems to be turning ok.

 

For what it's worth....I have 2 V6 Jeeps both with original mechanical fans. One has a shroud and one does not. When idling in the AZ summer the one without the shroud will go up over 200. As soon as I start moving the temp comes back down to 180.

The one with the shroud never goes over 180....idling or driving. My theory is on the one without the shroud the same air is getting pushed back and forth through the radiator when not moving.J

Just a theory .....

Might not apply with the electric fan?

Richard

 

180 is where I should be. It was around 80* today. This one is frustrating.

 

Stupid question, with electric fans do you have to flip the fan when you put it on the front or change polarity?

 

Another thought... any big change in altitude when you moved to AZ?

A lean fuel ratio will run hotter. A carb runs leaner at lower altitudes.

 

Looking at the tabs holding the fan onto the radiator indicates the size of your fan and tells me it’s terribly undersized only covering maybe 60% of the cooling fins. I’m a big proponent of a mechanical fan and shroud and agree with Richard in AZ.

 

The fan can run as a pusher or a puller. The polarity is switched so it turns the right direction. It isn’t as efficient when run as a pusher. The Jeep was in the Central Valley of California. It’s at about 100’ above sea level. We are about 1150’ in Phoenix. I used a 51 main jet I think, on a Holley 390. I went back out after you guys got me thinking and was trying to time it. I couldn’t find the mark with the timing light and kept moving the distributor. Then boom it died. I think I blew the power valve. It smells real rich and seems flooded. That will teach me. I was tired and should have left it alone until tomorrow. I’ll tear into it again tomorrow. Thanks for the input!
Cole

 

I may need to invest in a larger fan as well.

 

Dual fans and three row radiator on mine. I haven't yet had a problem. 26 years now on the same radiator and running a 195 Thermostat.

Another Idea. When I'm wheeling. It gets a little hot. I have a switch the I can leave the fans on for this occasion. Most of the time the fans never come on.

I have thermal switch that turns on the fans a 195. They shut off at 210. It's the switch on the thermostat housing at the top left drivers side.

 

I thought the same thing as Glen, but you say the belt is tight and does not appear to be slipping. Is the water pump in good condition and providing a good flow of water through the cooling system?

 

Do you have room to run a puller fan with a shroud? Electrical should work fine, as long as it's sized to maximize the airflow. You can buy fan and shroud kits from lots of places like Summit Racing.

Mike

 

I'm with Richard and Dphillip.
If I lived in a cooler area, high elevation, coastal, PNW rainforest...... an electric fan would be fine. For California and Arizona with regular 100+ degree temps.... mechanical fan and shroud. Never look back.