Over heating?

Russ Hood · Apr 20, 2025

I have the 26 inch radiator in my 440 car. Everything except the radiator is new and it seems to overheat. I had it overheat yesterday climbing elevation and it was coming out around the cap, replaced the cap. But when regular driving it goes over to the right and then comes back to normal, like it takes awhile for the thermostat to open.

Thoughts?

cosgig · Apr 30, 2025

Ocerheating while driving usually indicates a lack of airflow, So I would guess that maybe your radiator support to hood seal is not in place, or the cowl seal to hood seal is missing. Or maybe you are not running the clutch fan and shroud?

69hemibeep · Apr 30, 2025

Tell us more about the cooling system, fan and what speed and gear were you climbing at ?

STXCUDA · May 27, 2025

What temperature is it rising to?

Russ69Runner · Jun 2, 2025

Do you have the original fan in the car. I put a five-blade fan in mine, and it just did not do what the seven-blade dose. Must have a shroud also. 160 Thermostat is about what you need. If I am not wrong 16 psi pressure cap. Wish you luck. I had to switch out the heads on my 383 to aluminum heads from 440 source and what a difference that made.

Russ Hood · Tuesday at 2:23 PM

cosgig said:
Ocerheating while driving usually indicates a lack of airflow, So I would guess that maybe your radiator support to hood seal is not in place, or the cowl seal to hood seal is missing. Or maybe you are not running the clutch fan and shroud?

I have a shroud but no clutch fan, just a fan. Just on general driving the car will go to over half on the temp gauge and then when the thermostat opens it goes back to normal. Everything is new except the radiator, and it has been serviced.

Russ Hood · Tuesday at 2:25 PM

Russ69Runner said:
Do you have the original fan in the car. I put a five-blade fan in mine, and it just did not do what the seven-blade dose. Must have a shroud also. 160 Thermostat is about what you need. If I am not wrong 16 psi pressure cap. Wish you luck. I had to switch out the heads on my 383 to aluminum heads from 440 source and what a difference that made.

No, I just have the 5 blade, got to get a 7 blade. My thermostat is 180 need to change that out also.

STXCUDA · Tuesday at 2:30 PM

Well it doesn't sound like it's that bad. Any system that can lower the temperature on it's own is a system that is working. Your system just needs a bit a tweeking. I would definitely recommend you get a 7 blade fan blade along with a HD fan clutch. I don't have a problem at all with the 180 degree thermostat. As a matter of fact I tend to run the 190 degree thermostat and all my cars do just great. I'm in South Texas btw where we are regularly in the 105 degree weather. Factory thermostat was a 190, engine will run cleaner and burn more complete but that's a whole other topic. I also recommend a shroud for more efficient airflow to work along with your new fan setup. A new high quality thermostat is a must as well. You should be fine.

Russ Hood · Tuesday at 2:31 PM

STXCUDA said:
What temperature is it rising to?

It goes about halfway on the temp gauge until the 180 thermostat opens.

Russ Hood · Tuesday at 2:34 PM

STXCUDA said:
Well it doesn't sound like it's that bad. Any system that can lower the temperature on it's own is a system that is working. Your system just needs a bit a tweeking. I would definitely recommend you get a 7 blade fan blade along with a HD fan clutch. I don't have a problem at all with the 180 degree thermostat. As a matter of fact I tend to run the 190 degree thermostat and all my cars do just great. I'm in South Texas btw where we are regularly in the 105 degree weather. Factory thermostat was a 190, engine will run cleaner and burn more complete but that's a whole other topic. I also recommend a shroud for more efficient airflow to work along with your new fan setup. A new high quality thermostat is a must as well. You should be fine.

Thanks. I have a fan shroud guess I just need to pick up a 7 blade and a HD Fan clutch. Who do you shop with? Most of the stuff I have bought re-doing this car is from Mancini.

STXCUDA · Tuesday at 3:00 PM

Russ Hood said:
Thanks. I have a fan shroud guess I just need to pick up a 7 blade and a HD Fan clutch. Who do you shop with? Most of the stuff I have bought re-doing this car is from Mancini.

That's where I get my 7 blade fans as well.

STXCUDA · Tuesday at 3:04 PM

Russ Hood said:
Thanks. I have a fan shroud guess I just need to pick up a 7 blade and a HD Fan clutch. Who do you shop with? Most of the stuff I have bought re-doing this car is from Mancini.

The HD fan clutch is part number 2747

Terry Hauck · 2025-06-12T15:54:15-0500

Was it originally a 22-inch radiator? If you go to a 26, you should widen the opening where the radiator mounts for more airflow. I have an aluminum Cool Craft 22-inch, 160-degree thermostat, a shroud, and an electric fan, and this is where mine runs in the CA desert. A bit hot for my liking, but it never overheats.

Over heating?

Russ Hood

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cosgig

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69hemibeep

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STXCUDA

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Russ69Runner

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Russ Hood

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Russ Hood

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STXCUDA

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Russ Hood

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Russ Hood

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Terry Hauck

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