Results of radiator/cooling system maintainance & upgrad

[Guest the_dj]

Overall, my temps while driving in the hotttt Houston summer weather dropped around 30 degrees (as far as I can tell). Maybe more, maybe less, but DEFINATELY enough to put the car back in my comfort zone.

 

Here's what I did:

1) Shroud around radiator...plug ALL holes to the engine bay that go around the radiator.

2) Flush block with one of the active/neutralizer/rinse 3 stages coolant system cleansers. Talk about mud coming out the drain plug...

3) Replace JTR recommended camaro radiator with Howe 26x19x3" all aluminum radiator.

4) Use 25% orange antifreeze, 1 bottle of Royal Ice coolant additive, and the rest softened water.

 

I can finally USE my a/c without the temps topping out the Datsun guage now. :)

[Guest 305240]

Nice job! Isn't it great when something finally works out right?

[Tim240z]

DJ....do you have any pics of the radiator mounted?

I also want to replace my JTR camaro radiator. Not because it can't keep up, but just for a little extra piece of mind....

Where did you order the radiator from and what part number?

 

Thanks,

Tim

[Guest the_dj]

http://www.performancebodies.com/2002%20catalog/cooling/radiators.html

 

Part #342A

 

Regarding the mounting:

 

I have to redo part of the way it's mounted right now. I bent the upper mount that was on the camaro radiator so it holds the new one in place but is uggggly. The lower mount is slightly (1/8 to 1/4") too skinny in the long direction (frame rail to frame rail) so this radiator doesn't immediately drop in. We had to break the welds holding the mount to the tow hooks (thank you pneumatic hammer), widen it slightly and then mount it back. We mounted it that time by drilling holes at the ends and bolting it through the tow hooks to the frame rails. I'll have to come up with pictures of what I'm talking about.

 

I'll get pictures of the top mount once I'm satisfied with how it looks.

 

NOTE: I'm insanely tired at the time of this writing...i'll figure out more to say later.

 

Sam

[waynekarnes]

Tim, do you have the radiator that Mike at JTR has been recommending and sales, or do you have an actual camaro radiator.

 

mine is still running the 4 core brass radiator that was installed back in 77.

 

gauge in the dash, says engine is okay. but my face under the hood says, whoa that's hot !

 

one spirited test ride, made about a 6 mile loop. accelerated to 90 ( in a safe area ) a couple times.

 

could feel heat through the floor boards, and when parked in driveway, pulled the hood, felt some serious heat. stock gauge in the dash, was about 3/4 towards the hot.

 

i have bought an electric fan ( can't use the taurus. with scarab kit, sits too close to the radiator ), zirgo 14 inch something around 2680 cfm. been busy doing rust repairs and rust proofing, haven't had a chance to see if fan makes a difference.

 

anyway ... i was thinking, as Mike suggested, yanking the 4 core, and using the radiator that JTR sells, along with the taurus fan. according to Mike, the 2 speed taurus fan will fit if i use the big 2 core radiator they sell. he feels that will eliminate any cooling issues my 350 V8 might have.

 

are you using the radiator that Mike was suggesting i use, or an actual camaro radiator ?

 

thanks, wayne

[HICKL]

Do you want to sell the JTR camaro radiator? I'm just north of houston.

[Tim240z]

I am using a Camaro radiator from a 4 cylinder Camaro. I am using the fan and 'shroud' from a 6 cylinder Camaro. Like I said, it is holding up fine, but I like overkill......

[waynekarnes]

Thanks Tim !

 

thought you were running a V8 and camaro V8 radiator. i have heard that the cross flow radiator for the 4 cylinder is the same one used for the V6 .

 

as you suggested, with the shroud, that radiator is supposed to be a great set up for a stock or modified 6 banger.

 

i will see how my engine runs with the zirgo 14 inch electric fan.

 

i hope it works.

 

if it doesn't work ....

 

looks like, i will have to buy the JTR radiator set up, and use the taurus fan.

[Tim240z]

I just bought a Taurus 2 speed at the JY ($14), so I will replace the 6 cylinder Camaro fan soon.

[Guest BigE]

What year Taurus? How do you plan to set it up?

[Tim240z]

It was from a 1991 Sable. I'm just gonna use the high speed setting.