The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 454 in AD Truck, does anyone have a running truck?

Does anyone have of know of a running AD truck with a 454. I have used the search feature and nearly all of the AD trucks are in the planning stages and not quite ready to be running. I have my truck running but I cannot keep it cool. I am running the original 3 core radiator which I know is the problem. I want to know how the running trucks are being cooled. I know I can get a Griffin 2 core unit for $640.00 and a Jim Carter 4 core unit for around $400-$450. I know that there is a little price difference but I am not real concerned over $200.00 if I know the unit will keep the motor cool. If anyone knows of a big block in the AD truck it would be very benificial to know how it is being cooled. If you are interested in how my truck was done to this point;follow the link in my signature, it should get you to the point where I am to date. Thanks in advance for the help.

I've seen a couple of them, one more than 100 miles from where I know it lives, so I believe the cooling system in it works. Unfortunately I don't have an email for the guy, and don't recall what the cooling system was.

Oldsub-- I was hoping you would respond to this. I keep seeing your ideas all over this site. Don't you have a ton that you are working on with plans for a 454. What were you thinking about using for cooling? I have been checking around here in Tennessee but keep coming up short. Several local radiator shops say they could recore my original but said they have not actually done one in the style truck with the big block. I have faith that there is somebody out there who has done this and has a working solution.

I don't have a big block in my AD truck but I do have one in my Chevelle. It had cooling issues when I first got it. Aside from having a well tuned engine, I did 3 things. Fan shroud, 3 core rad and thinner coolant. It helped immensely.

I haven't made a decision on the radiator yet. I'm also playing with using a Cadillac 500 instead of the 454 since a running Caddy was abandoned here recently.

One of my 454 donors is a P30 based motorhome with a huge radiator. I haven't measured it yet, and when I do I may be forced to think difference, but I'm inclinded to use that radiator.

Here is an aluminum radiator that they are selling for use in an AD truck with a 454, I know nothing more than what is in the auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400003077937&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=

Grigg

Thanks for the info. I am checking out the ebay auction. It looks promising, I will try to find out if the GMC option is available. I also have a question in regards to a shroud. Is it a good idea to install a shroud when the fan is pushing? I see it as a restriction when running at open road speed. What is the consensus of the group?

I put a 500 Cadillac in a 51 GMC AD that now has over a quarter million miles on it( 2nd engine). It has a/c and is in the Texas heat without ever going over the thermostat setting. The radiator is out of a 46 Ford truck with a flathead 6 in it. It did require four copper tubes run from front to back of the top tank and soldered in place so it doesn't flex the tank and crack the tank to core joint. You can see it at: http://s32.wwwphotobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover
Scroll to the bottom of the first page and click on page 3 then scroll down it to the blue 51 labeled 51GMC/500.

Sorry, add one more slash on the end. http://s32.www.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/

One more time. http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/
It also took a lot of tries to get that big 500 into that AD.

No, Assuming by pushing you mean electric fan on the front of the radiator, then you don't want a shroud.

For a fan on the back side of the radiator you do want a shroud.
If you feel it is a restriction to flow at high road speeds then install some rubber flaps that seal shut when the fan is drawing, and flap open to pass air when the wind is pushing faster than the fan can suck. Hard to describe, but once you see it done it's as simple as can be.. if only I could find a picture for you.. I'm not so sure it's necessary though, just a plain shroud is probably OK.

Grigg

I think I understand I work in the hvac business and we use what is called a backdraft damper on an exhasut fan that opens when the exhaust fan is running then closes when the air flow to the exhaust fan shuts down. I had thought about using some sort of flap or damper or something that was gravity operated but when the air flow from the road exceeded the tension of the flaps then the would open to allow air to the radiator.

Oh yeah, I am pushing the air through the radiator from the front because I have 3/4" between the waterpump pulley and the back of the radiator.

Hey Coilover,
Do you have any pics of the mod's you had to do with the 46 ?ord radiator.

here is a picture of the flaps:
http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_0802_pontiac_cooling_system_upgrade/photo_09.html
this is an article on electric fans shrouds I found while looking for flap pictures:
http://www.highperformancepontiac.c...ng_system_upgrade/aluminum_radiator.html

At the bottom of this page is another picture of the flaps, otherwise it shows a bunch of ways to mount a fan:
http://www.spalusa.com/fans/mount_options.html

The flaps are not spring loaded, and they don't really work by gravity. I would say that they are just plain check valves for air, and I suppose gravity keeps them closed at rest, but the air pressure is what really operates them when in use.

Now after all that, I still don't think you need or even want a shroud on the front of a radiator, I can't see how it would help, with or without flaps.

Grigg

I would agree with you. I have had several people tell me that I would need a shroud but I wanted to run it by the experts to confirm my assumption. Thanks for the great advise. I will probably try to go with a Griffin aluminum 2 core with 1 1/4" tubes. It is more expensive but the total capacity is closer to a 5 core if you look merely at the size of the cores in relation to the standard 1/2" core. I think that Walker has a similar style aluminum radiator. When I finally purchase and install I will let everyone know how it turns out. Again thanks for all the help.

Please do, as I am considering the same radiator for my truck. In my case I have had the same diesel in a truck that came factory with a 454. So I know if a radiator works for a 454 it should work well for my 4-53.

Grigg

Hrmm... I will be watching this thread. I wish i could see the images at work. Are there any other hosting sites? Or possibly email the pics to me?

Lately we have heard horror stories on rebuilt rads and rads bought from questionable manufacturers. Considering your big block overheating is more serious than that of a small block my suggestion would be to buy a rad from a builder that has been around for a long time and has a good name in the industry.
http://www.walkerradiatorworks.com/

I have just called Walker Radiator and they have a Z-511 radiator that is about 750.00 this is a copper brass radiatior. I asked if they have had their radiators in a truck that style that has a big block. The rep that I talked to said that they have it in the Gravedigger truck pushing 1500 horses. This one could be the right fit. I know that the Gravedigger is the same style but I have not done any research to see how it is built and if they use the factory style front clip and factory radiator location. Maybe this will help someone out there I am still trying to get the money together to purchase my radiator. Everything is somewhere in the 650.00 and up range so it may be a while before the radiator gets bought but you still have to plan out everything and know your options.

I'd run from anyone who tried to tell me that what works in a truck like Gravedigger is right for my street truck.

Its been a few years, and probably a few versions of the truck, but I once had the opportunity to look at Gravedigger and a handful of other monster trucks. They each had custom made tubular steel frames with fiberglass body shells and only a mild external similarity to the original stock trucks.

That's not to say the Walker Radiator is a bad choice, only that what works on a monster truck tells you nothing about what will work on yours unless you are building a monster truck.

1953 Panel,
what is thinner coolant?

The Walker catalog shows a selection of over 150 different designs of radiators. I think the rep was responding to the question, would the z-511 work for a big hp, big block.

I would agree. I asked the rep if they have had this radiator in a similar style truck with a big block. I know there are alot of differences(not really any similarities at all) in the trucks and I really didn't want a comparision between my truck and something like the Gravedigger. I was hoping for something alot milder and more street legal. Oh well sales reps like to use high profile names when it comes to representing thier product and a mild street legal vehicle that nobody has ever heard of may not give the potential customer the reassurance that thier expectations will be satisfied. I didn;t mean to create confusion and degrade the Walker Co. but I thought that the info may be benificial.