The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Cooling a 383, Original Radiator?

Will I be able to properly cool a 383 stroker, 400hp, with the original '58 radiator? I hope to be running an electric fan, dual fans if necessary, on a radiator that is in good shape.

The truck will not have A/C but a high output alternator and PS pump will be present. The motor is on a camaro subframe with iron heads.

Thanks

If the radiator was originally sized for a V8 then it, along with your other measures should keep it under the boiling point. If it turns out not to after time, then you have not lost anything and can upgrade then.

I would highly recommend going with an aluminum radiator. The extra cost is also extra insurance that you won't have problems.

Is there a way to tell if I have a V8 radiator? The radiator is approximately 3" thick and the po had a 350/350 combo in the truck before I bought it.

i agree with wilbur...you spent a lot of time and money on that motor it wuld make sense to put a good raditor on there to cool it. secondly an aluminum radiator would look really cool! i would go with an aluminum radiator just for sanities sake.

I can't say for sure how to differentiate between radiator sizes visually and do not have part number information for task force trucks but I am sure someone around does. While the aluminum radiator will certainly solve your cooling issues it remains to be seen if any exist in the first place. Why spent a sizable chunk of change if you do not have to?

Aluminum radiators should be available for the TF trucks - they are for the ADs (except they don't make one for GMCs...grr...). A copper "desert cooler" type would also work.

you could also try to adapt a radiator from an older chevy that came with a v-8.

The task force trucks such as your 58 did have V8 so the radiator you have may be just fine. The desert cooler product is a good lower price alternative to the high dollar aluminum radiators.

I agree with wilbur. I had a 55 2nd with a 383, i tried to run it with the stock (v8) rad and that didn't cut it. Those 383s run pretty warm...my end result was an aluminum 4core with duel electric fans (pushers).

I would like to stick with the orginal radiator for now, but how hard was it to adapt the bracketry for the aluminum radiator? I may need some custom hoses too or is there flexible hose that holds its shape?

55 were you using electric fans on the original radiator or a clutch fan? Also were the cooling problems during low or high speed operation?

I think a direct-fit aluminum radiator is probably being produced.

Keep in mind that the original stovebolt radiator is a low pressure design. I don't know if you can simply throw on a high pressure cap and not spring leaks. So you probably almost have to change the radiator.

As far as the great aluminum versus copper/brass debate, it really does depend more on your personal taste than performance. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and I don't believe any one is better than the other.

Copper/brass is more efficient than aluminum at conducting heat. However, the fins per inch have to be less, and you need more cores thickness to improve heat transfer. And it's true that the thicker you get, the more it follows the law of diminishing returns. You can go up to 5 core, maybe 6, without running into this rule of thumb, but start getting thicker than that, and each additional core is less effective.

The big advantage to aluminum is the really tight fins/inch that you can get, and the tubes are broader. So it's true that you make more efficient use of the core, meaning less core count to equal a thicker copper/brass radiator. This results in less weight, (which is not a big deal issue for a heavy truck anyway). I'd estimate that a 2-core aluminum radiator is as efficient as maybe a 3 core copper/brass radiator. However, when you get up into the 4 or 5 core copper radiators, I don't think the aluminum cools as good as those.

...And this is by experience. I easily keep two big block engines cool with 5-core copper radiators, yet the fancy schmancy 2-core aftermarket aluminum radiator in my 350 Camaro barely does the job!!!

Ditto on the Desert Cooler, that engine cost too much to risk it to overheating. Whats another 400 for a good radiator, at this point anyway.

There is enough room right behind the truck's grill to mount a horizontal-type truck radiator without much problem at all. That'll give you all the room you need in the engine bay and give you a much larger radiator for the V8.

Thanks for the info everyone. I put the motor in late last week for a test fitting and to locate the transmission cross-member. Im also setting up the tilt column, pedals, and brake booster and realized that free space was rapidly diminishing. I think I'll be putting an aluminum radiator behind the grill to save on space.

Try No Limit Co. They have crossflow radiators that can cool 450 horse engines. 55-59 for around $389.00 They also have alot of other neat stuff suspensions gas tanks gauges etc. Their made to fit into the stock radiator supports. www.nolimit.net

I was told awhile back that aluminum radiators don't last as long as copper radiators, is that true?

Interesting...what size aluminum radiator do you have in that Camaro? The Corvette guys swear by them as superior replacements for the original 4-row copper/brass radiators, even for big blocks.

I am running a 350 in my 55 2nd.it has the original radiator,and a good shroud.Engine runs just shy of 200 deg.Small blocks have a tendancy to run a little warm,as long as you keep it at 220 or under you should be just fine.Your 383 is nothing more than a stroked 350.I would however invest in a good heat gauge,and keep a close eye on it.