V6 swap running hot......

Hey all,

Just finished swapping in a Buick 231 Even-fire into my 62 CJ5 (bye bye, F-134). I managed to get it to clear with the stock radiator and really like the way it is all fitting in there.

Running an electric fan, 16", 1600CFM and the stock 7psi radiator cap.

It still runs a bit hot. 180 degree thermostat in it, and clipping along at 50-55mph/3200-3600rpm my temp is about 190 degrees. I can live with that, but once I get to the trail and start going slow up the canyon, the temp goes up even more, by the time I got to the top of the mountain (7600 ft) I was up to 210 degrees. At that point I packed snow on the radiator and let it idle with the hood up and it cooled right down.

I'd like to keep the stock radiator in place, or at the least, not cut the shroud between the grill and the radiator if I could. I have a stock air filter setup from an 89 Blazer with the intake hose pulling from the fresh air intake on the drivers side that i'd like to keep if possible.

Looking around, it looks like the stock v6 CJ's used a 13psi cap (am I right?), figure i'll try that first, then maybe going to a larger CFM cooling fan. Unless i'm just not going to get it cool with the stock radiator.

What do you guys think? Am I tackling this the right way? Can the stock radiator from my 62 cool the V6 for highway driving and puttering up the canyon?

 

Also mention, I spent about 3 hours straightening out all the fins on the radiator when I did the engine swap, so plenty of air is able to go through it.

 

It may be a good idea to have the radiator flow tested. It may be partially clogged.

 

Sounds like it's definitly worth a shot then, do you have a prefered PSI I should look for? I was thinking of just going with 15psi.

 

If people are running the v6 on this radiator, that is something i'll definitly do if the new cap doesn't make a diff. As long as people are running the 4cyl radiator with thier v6's, then i'm a happy camper! I'd really hate to change the 'look' of the engine bay right now. I looks pretty "stock" right now, i'm digging it!

I'll dig up some pics of my swap if anyone wants to see them.

 

At 210, when I shut it off, I could hear it boiling (so I kept it running and put the snow on it).

The cap should help that, and hopefully make it so we can keep enjoying this thing this summer!

 

the temp isn't too high, it's result of the load you put on it during the climb.
I'm running a 16 lb small diameter cap on my 2A radiator, and a 7 blade mechanical fan.
I don't think you'll find anything over 10 for the large diameter cap.
A radiator shop can do the neck swap pretty easily.
If you're going to take it out an clean it anyway, that's the time to do it.

 

I found a 16psi cap for it at Autozone. Not sure i'll get a chance to take it for a good long/hot drive this evening, but hopefully in the next few days i'll be able to check it out.

That little f-134 could hardly get the thing to warm up, never ever touched above 180 degrees no matter what or how I was driving.

I'll take the power of the v6 anyday though. :-D

 

Put a 16lb cap on it and finally got it out for a drive last night. Went on a lot of rolling hills holding 55mph the whole time and it stayed steady at 180 degrees where before it was going 190 or so on flat ground. So far, and improvement. I'll try to get some "city driving" in to see how that has changed, as well as get it back up the hills and do a bit more crawling with it to see how it does there as well.

So far, a noticable difference though, so that's good!

Thanks for everyone's help so far!

 

Here's a thought to ponder......................
IF you increase the PSI in the radiator, (hence the boiling point of the coolant), you MAY blow the radiator open!
(Don't ask how I discovered that my old radiator was a bit weak)
So, before I'd add, or double?? the PSI, I'd take it and have it flow tested, and ask the kind tech if'n it'll hold the extra PSI
A thought before.........................
Joe
What the h*** is that smell? What's leaking on the ground NOW! Jump up Jesus with a stick it's my coolant!

 

exactly, your radiator had a problem.
If it's in good shape, there won't be a problem.