[Amc-list] Re; Radiators

["John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>]

List
Snip
Drag rules call for a catch can, but I would think the low tank
rad would need a true recovery system.
 
It seems inappropriate to not have one anyways, except for
showable originals. Who wants to have to refill a radiator all
the time? That juice is expensive! I'd bet those buying a fancy
radiator have already added one. They're only 10 bucks.
Snip
 
When I lived in Southern California and as my original Blackstone
radiator became progressively more plugged on my Donohue it got to the
point on those 90 degree plus days that having the radiator full to the
top was the difference between running hot or not. Of course as water
expanded from the heat it would dribble out through the over flow and
the car would run hot. 
So I installed a catch can! ($10.00 sounds about right)
It kept things going for quite a while until I moved to Arizona. 110
degree heat plus is a whole 'nother matter. 
I pulled my 160 thermostat and installed a 145 degree unit. A new
radiator cap, and eventually a Kwick Kooler Water pump and modified the
thermostat for increased coolant flow. I also installed open chamber
heads that reduced the compression to about 9.5:1 That finally got
things back under control. (Mostly) But as Tom pointed out, keeping
things from running too hot also keeps pinging and pre-ignition problems
down. As summer rolled around I had to run the timing a bit late to keep
from pinging but winter was o.k., until--------------I sprung a leak in
the core of my Original Blackstone radiator. 
A check to Jeff Kennedy at Kennedy American got a Desert Kooler radiator
by return mail and installed. 
SHAZAAM as they say!
The heat gauge stays pegged at the bottom of the normal run mark. My
guess is that is 145 degrees as that thermostat is still in there. The
only time I saw it move above that point is when I got caught in traffic
and it was 121 degrees. It was about 15 miles on the freeway in stop and
stop traffic. It got a bit warm that day. 
On the Donohue, a 390 I run a 145 degree thermostat modified for
increased water flow, a kwick kooler water pump, an AMC fan shroud
(metal), the stock AMC fan, a 16# radiator cap and an over flow tank. I
can run all the distributor advance that 91 octane gasoline will allow
me to run year around with no problems. 
On the 80 AMX I run a 170 degree thermostat, a fresh larger A/C
radiator, stock water pump, a 12 # radiator cap and a fan shroud. It
handles the heat well. 
On the 80 Spirit I run a 195 degree thermostat as the fuel injection
does not like things cooler, a rebuilt 3 core A/C radiator, stock water
pump, a 12#  radiator cap, a stock fan and a fan shroud. It will run
cool in heavy traffic with the A/C running. 
By the way, all three of these cars compete in various shows. You are
not going to run into much of a problem unless you are competing at a
deep pockets show and in 20 years of showing, I have never attended one
of those.
John. 
 
 
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