Bob
When you are running down the road at 65 mph, this requires about 50 hp. It does not matter if you have 300 500 or 800 hp, it only takes 50 or so. And that 50hp requires a certain amount of fuel, in direct relationship to the power output. So all engines, in 3500# bricks like mine,require about the same cooling system capacity to cruise at 65 mph. If you are having trouble under these conditions,logic says that your solutions will be the same as mine were.
I'm pretty sure you know this, so I'm probably preaching to the choir.
I also understand that your bigger engine will be creating more heat strictly due to it's size.
But here's the thing; My cooling system is adequate to cruise at 120 all day long in the hottest parts of a Minnesota/South Dakota day. We know that when we double the speed it takes over 4 times the power, so let's just say 120 requires 180hp. I know that my cooling system is up to that task.
And since it went 93 in the 1/8th, without budging the needle, I also know that she is good to a tic over 400hp for 7 or 8 seconds, atta time.
I presented my solutions for your perusal. I'm not saying that my way is the only way or the best way, but it sure as chit was the cheapest and the most reliable for my power level, and for my useage.
Feel free to copy it, or not.
Again, if I'm going over old ground, my apologies.
>As to the side tanks receiving air, I agree with you; the water just doesn't spend a lot of time in the tanks,and that portion of water that passes right next to the tank skin,they say,is slow moving,sticking to the skin, in the same manner as fuel sticks to the runner walls on a cold engine. My conventional tanks are shrouded too.
>I empathize with your no-room-for-a fan-clutch, and so, I have seen that 7-blade hi-attack fan with the funky curled tips, as a direct-drive as well. And with the amount of money you likely have in that monster engine, I'm guessing reliability is a key point for you.
>If I had your problem, Ima thinking I would at least try a direct-drive monster fan on there like that, and either move the rad forward or try a thinner one.
>At idle, the major difference between our engines, in terms of heat production, is internal friction, and ring-seal, and ignition timing. So FYI, I offer this; I used Plasma-moly file-fit conventional 4.04 rings, and the Blowby at the time of install was almost immeasurable. Eventually it settled in at about 2%. I use Hughes 1110 (IIRC) springs shimmed "a little" to control the OEM valves in my OOTB Eddies, to at least 7200 rpm. I use roller-tipped-only aluminum adjustable rockers. My cylinder pressure has run between 175 and 190 depending on which cam was in it at the time. I run 87E10 exclusively. And my engine does not care much about idle-timing; I run 14 to 16.
Other tricks;
I run the big Milodon oilpan, for extra capacity and extra cooling. But it usually has no more than 6 qts in it, to divorce the oil from the crank as much as possible. I run the dual 3" full-length mandrel-bent cannons, not because my engine needs them, but to shuttle the heat out as fast as possible. I closed off the area between the bottom of the rad-cradle and the K, with a custom steel belly-pan mostly to protect the oilpan which hangs down nearly an inch and I kept snagging it on things; but also to force the air that was exiting the rad to flow rearwards over the engine, and out past the headers, and finally under the car; unconventional I know, but it's a streeter,limited to street speeds. The Barracuda has about a 1inch rake front to back, in an effort to create a low pressure area back there, to help draw the hot air out.Ima thinking it must be working cuz the floor gets pretty hot.
I like to leave it idling for long periods of time, when amongst other hotrods, to shame those guys who cannot so do,lol. You know, kindof in your face azzhole. It ain't cuz of the lope, cuz my 230 cam has very little of it. I keep the idle Rs up, to keep the fan spinning with the underdrive pulleys, and to keep the oil circulating with the HV pump, and to be sneaky. No lope = no threat.
So again,I offer this for your perusal believing that you are aware of most or all these tricks, but also as of interest to those others who may come afterwards and who do not.
