My 80 Z-28 has a 355 making 450 h.p. . I have a factory 4 core rad. , aluminum water pump , 165 thermostat . While driving on the street the engines runs between 200 - 220 . I was thinking of an aluminum radiator and electric fans . One friend told me to look for a late model O.E.M. , but I am afraid it will not cool the car well . Any help would be greatly appreciated .

Before you buy a new radiator, check to ensure that all air is out of the cooling system, and that you are not running the carb lean. Both of these will make the car run hot.

I run a 470 hp 383 in my Datsun 280z using an 1984 camaro v6 aluminum radiator with no problems.

Jon

Also make sure you have a fan shroud and a good fan. The blades on my fan had flattened out over time and wasn't moving any air though the radiator. After replacing it my tempature came down 30 degrees.
Another thing to look at is the 165 thermostat, sometimes running a thermosat that opens too quick the water in the radiator isn't in there long enough to cool off and the temp keeps rising.
I run a 185 in my street car and the car never goes over 200 even on a hot day in traffic.

Where is your sending unit tapped into your engine at? If it's tapped into the cylinder head, then 200* is about normal. If it's tapped into the intake, then it's a bit high. Also, unless your radiator cap is new, replace it. What type of fan are you currently running? As bdyj mentioned, a shrouded, belt driven fan should cool your engine with that 4 row radiator. I ran a similar set up with a thermal clutch fan, shroud, and a 7 blade fan. I also run a 5/8" restrictor instead of a thermostat and mine runs cool as ice in ANY summer heat.

And by "factory 4 row radiator", do you mean factory BB radiator from an early 70-72? These were the only 2nd gens offered with a 4 row. Anything after that was 2 or 3 row.


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Objects In Mirror Are LOSING

[This message has been edited by GoldenOne7710 (edited April 04, 2005).]

I run a $95.00 Advanced Auto radiator for a 1970 ss 396 with auto and air, 3 core, factory H 20 pump, moroso elec motor drive,
1 used Junkyard elec fan , no thermostat only a gutted thermostat as a restrictor mine runs about 160-180.

Thanks everyone for your replies . To answer some of the questions . The sending unit is in the intake , the carb is a liitle on the rich side and I have made sure there is no air in the system . I have the factory shroud and an aftermarket flex fan , I went thru two factory fans clutches and the flex fan was recommend to me . I replaced the cap a couple of years ago when it first started running hot . I made an assumption on the 4 core , sorry . It is a factory h.d unit and my car had a/c so I assumed it to be a 4 core . I had tried two electric fans before with out any luck and at that time I was told that I needed to shroud them in order for them to pull air efficently .

I run a aluminum one from a 1988 Iroc-Z with a pair of 12 inch eletric fans and its never let my 355 get hot. Even on the hot days of summer here in NC while sitting in traffic it only gets to about 190-195... my car runs between 7.20-7.40 in the 1/8 mile and gets driven quite often on hot days.
I should have a pic or two on my link.