Cooling Problems
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Not quite sure what the problem is. I've got an Afco aluminum radiator, a Moroso pulley type electric water pump, a 16" slimline electric fan (1850cfm) mounted on the outside of the radiator (blows into the ehgine), and no thermostat. I have to shut the motor down in the staging lanes to keep the temp from climbing above 200 deg. By the time I'm on the return road to the pits, the temp is 230-240. In between rounds I'll run the electric fan and pump to cool it down but it takes a while. Last weekend when I had only 1 battery on board, and no way to recharge in between rounds, the battery drained while I was in the staging lanes. 
I think I may have one of those underdrive pulleys on the electric water pump, which may be the problem, coupled with the fact that I'm using an underdrive pulley on the alternator which doesn't recharge the battery adequately. That's why I just went to 2 batterys wired in series. Any ideas?
I think I may have one of those underdrive pulleys on the electric water pump, which may be the problem, coupled with the fact that I'm using an underdrive pulley on the alternator which doesn't recharge the battery adequately. That's why I just went to 2 batterys wired in series. Any ideas?
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 886
From: Moonachie, NJ
just on cooling it down. i've seen guys useing hudson sprayers,(portable hand pump pressurized spray bottle like you would use in a garden) on their radiators in the pits . spraying the radiators down with cool water while running the fan and pump. they said it cools the motor down quicker. have you been haveing this problem or did it just start?
also, if your alt is not chargeing the one battery its def not going to charge two. did you check the output of your alt? is it putting out what it should?
also, if your alt is not chargeing the one battery its def not going to charge two. did you check the output of your alt? is it putting out what it should?
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Do you have straight water in the radiator?
I use Red Line Water Wetter in mine mixed with straight water. I've got a stock 2 row 19" radiator, a 16" Mr. Gasket fan on the inside (puller), and an electric water pump. No thermostat.
I also shut the motor off in the staging lanes. Last time out I was having starter problems, so I had to keep it running from the time I pulled into the staging lanes until I got to the line - about 15 minutes. That time it was up around 190-200 when I get to to the line.
With shutting it off, I can keep it around 160-170, which is about where it runs best. Any lower it bogs, any higher it slows on the top end.
If I saw my temp gauge at 230-240, I'd panic and shut it off pronto. The highest I've ever seen it is about 220. I think if I had an aluminum radiator it'd run cooler.
Between rounds I run the fan & water pump to cool it down. No matter how hot it gets, it's down to around 140 degrees in less than 10 minutes.
Can you mount your fan on the inside and reverse the rotation? Maybe give the Water Wetter a shot, it dropped my temps about 10-15 degrees.
I use Red Line Water Wetter in mine mixed with straight water. I've got a stock 2 row 19" radiator, a 16" Mr. Gasket fan on the inside (puller), and an electric water pump. No thermostat.
I also shut the motor off in the staging lanes. Last time out I was having starter problems, so I had to keep it running from the time I pulled into the staging lanes until I got to the line - about 15 minutes. That time it was up around 190-200 when I get to to the line.
With shutting it off, I can keep it around 160-170, which is about where it runs best. Any lower it bogs, any higher it slows on the top end.
If I saw my temp gauge at 230-240, I'd panic and shut it off pronto. The highest I've ever seen it is about 220. I think if I had an aluminum radiator it'd run cooler.
Between rounds I run the fan & water pump to cool it down. No matter how hot it gets, it's down to around 140 degrees in less than 10 minutes.
Can you mount your fan on the inside and reverse the rotation? Maybe give the Water Wetter a shot, it dropped my temps about 10-15 degrees.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 886
From: Moonachie, NJ
i'm useing the water weter also, i also installed a flex fan at same time. i drive mine on the street runs at constant 165, and it hasen't gone over 190 in traffic . use to go to 225. water weter / flex fan combo did the trick. so far.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
A fellow racer at the track also recommended the water spray on the radiator between rounds, and that's a good idea, but I really need to get to the core of the problem. I have a 30% antifreeze/70% water mix in the rad + a small bottle of water wetter. I ordered an overdrive pulley and belt for the electric water pump; have a feeling it's just not circulating enough water. Do you guys think the fan cfm (1850) is adequate to cool a 383 ? I did originally have the fan on the engine side of the rad, as a puller, but changed to the outside thinking it might work better. Also, if the battery was draining down, the fan may not by turning the rated rpm's, right ?
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 886
From: Moonachie, NJ
I WOULD THINK THE CRANK PULLEY CONTROLS IT ALL, IN RELATIONSHIP WITH PULLIES ON WATER PUMP AND ALT. ALT PULLY MAY BE TO LARGE, NOT SPINNING ENOUGH. have you checked output of alt? DID THE WATER PUMP PULLY COME WITH WATER PUMP, OR DID YOU INSTALL IT? ALSO DID THIS JUST START HAPPENING WITH THE HIGH WATER TEMP, OR HAS IT BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM? COULD ALSO BE TIMING. (SORRY DID'NT NOTICE CAP LOCK ON) had a 71 vette would overheat under normal driving conditions. after searching everywhere for the problem , i found distrib. moved . reset timing and ran cool for 10 years. by the way i only added 1 little bottle of water wetter to my system also.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
I haven't checked the output of the alternator yet. Guess that's a good place to start. Yes, I installed the water pump and the plastic pulley came with the electric motor and belt. I wish I had a way to measure the water flow. This has been an ongoing problem. I thought the new radiator would solve the overheating problem. Maybe I should replace the Moroso electric, belt drive, pump motor with a Mazierre $$$$.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Actually, the timing used to be at 40 deg, a couple of weeks ago I recurved the distributor so the total timing is 38 deg, all in by 2400 rpm.
I don't recall what the initial timing is. You think if I go to 36 total that might help ?
I don't recall what the initial timing is. You think if I go to 36 total that might help ?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Cooling Update
Well, the charging problem is solved. Went to 2 batterys in series and now have plenty of juice without having to recharge between rounds.
Still working on the cooling issue. I took out the electric fan, just wasn't getting the job done. It blew 1850cfm and I tried it as a pusher and as a puller. I retained the Mr Gasket electric H2O pump drive and added a plastic fan to the nose of the drive pulley with a 1.5" spacer. The fan blades are now 3/4" from the radiator. This set-up worked great (temp only reached 205 deg with a 180 thermostat) for about 30 mins, then the elec motor overheated and blew a fuse. I guess it was just too much to ask of that little motor to pump the water and turn the cooling fan at the same time. Now I don't know what to do. Might go back to the pulley for the fan and water pump. Even if I go to a Maziere elec water pump, I'm screwed cause I won't have a pulley off the pump to run the plastic fan.
There's gotta be a better way. HELP !!!!
Still working on the cooling issue. I took out the electric fan, just wasn't getting the job done. It blew 1850cfm and I tried it as a pusher and as a puller. I retained the Mr Gasket electric H2O pump drive and added a plastic fan to the nose of the drive pulley with a 1.5" spacer. The fan blades are now 3/4" from the radiator. This set-up worked great (temp only reached 205 deg with a 180 thermostat) for about 30 mins, then the elec motor overheated and blew a fuse. I guess it was just too much to ask of that little motor to pump the water and turn the cooling fan at the same time. Now I don't know what to do. Might go back to the pulley for the fan and water pump. Even if I go to a Maziere elec water pump, I'm screwed cause I won't have a pulley off the pump to run the plastic fan.
There's gotta be a better way. HELP !!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Just installed the Meziere elec water pump, and it is sweet! Went to a different elec fan with a shroud, ran the engine for 20 minutes at idle and the hottest it got was 180 with no thermostat, only a water restrictor plate. I also added a crankcase evacuation set-up and put in a set of hotter plugs. I'm feeling pretty good about the car right now. Goin' to Island Saturday.....hoping to break into the 11's
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Timing is the same, 38 total, all in by 2400. I had to change to a hotter plug, the old ones had a lot of carbon build-up (way too cold).
I think the problem with overheating was a combination of not using a shroud on the electric fan and humble output of the Mr Gasket electric motor used on the water pump.
Tony, did you ever get a trailer? Going to Island soon?
I think the problem with overheating was a combination of not using a shroud on the electric fan and humble output of the Mr Gasket electric motor used on the water pump.
Tony, did you ever get a trailer? Going to Island soon?
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 886
From: Moonachie, NJ
No Dan,I haven't gotten a trailer yet. With the price of steel skyrocketing so has the price of trailers, even the ones they already had in stock. Gonna have to wait for tax refund time if I can't find a good used one.
I have found a place (u-haul) to rent one for $50 per day, but they want a 3-week reservation. I plan on going to track in September some time when it cools down. But if it rains i'll have to pay for it anyway, I think.
New distributer should arrive this week some time.I want to take another stab with setup I have now at higher rpm launch, and shift points , then install new one to see difference if any.
Dan I am definately chomping at the bit.
I have found a place (u-haul) to rent one for $50 per day, but they want a 3-week reservation. I plan on going to track in September some time when it cools down. But if it rains i'll have to pay for it anyway, I think.
New distributer should arrive this week some time.I want to take another stab with setup I have now at higher rpm launch, and shift points , then install new one to see difference if any.
Dan I am definately chomping at the bit.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Tony, I feel your pain. Too bad, I sold a great open trailer 'bout 4 mos ago for only $900...had to let it go cheap 'cause my enclosed trailer was being delivered. Hope you find as good a deal.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 886
From: Moonachie, NJ
Thanks Dan. My wife is insisting we go out this weekend and pick one up.
So maybe i'll let her twist my arm. I spent about a year and a half building my car. I figured I could wait a little longer. She said "Your not getting any younger, do it now!" (Like I needed a reminder). As she said about building it in the first place. Good woman. So I'm gonna head to South Jersey this weekend Check book in hand. We"ll see what happens. I'll keep you posted.
So maybe i'll let her twist my arm. I spent about a year and a half building my car. I figured I could wait a little longer. She said "Your not getting any younger, do it now!" (Like I needed a reminder). As she said about building it in the first place. Good woman. So I'm gonna head to South Jersey this weekend Check book in hand. We"ll see what happens. I'll keep you posted.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 278
From: Vernon, New Jersey
Well, if it ain't one thing, it's another. Saturday, my 1 st 2 passes were good; temp never exceeded 190deg, had a 1.72 60' (new best), ran a 12.150 (new best - previous best was 12.159). Looks like the crankcase evacuation set-up gets the credit for a pick-up of .009
While in the staging lane before the 3rd pass, the electric fan blew a fuse and the engine overheated again
Left the tree@ 220deg, ran a 12.24.
Electrical stuff is my weakest link (good thing I'm not an electrician). I think the problem is in the fact that I don't have any relays wired in. Is anyone an expert on wiring relays?
While in the staging lane before the 3rd pass, the electric fan blew a fuse and the engine overheated again
Left the tree@ 220deg, ran a 12.24. Electrical stuff is my weakest link (good thing I'm not an electrician). I think the problem is in the fact that I don't have any relays wired in. Is anyone an expert on wiring relays?
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