Evans Coolant Temps

Been a month or so and wanted to document where I’m at and have learned through this whole thing in case someone finds this years from now.

Evans provided me a full refund for 5 gal of coolant even tho I was only able to recover 3 gal from my system. They also refunded the reflectometer I purchased as well. All they asked was for a copy of the invoice from Summit and sent me a check a day later.

I tried 50/50 and while temps did kinda lower (220) they were still higher than I felt comfortable with. So I took the money I got back from Evans and ordered a 26” radiator for a B/E body from Cold Case. The only modifications I had to make whether 2, 1/4” holes in the rad support and 2, 1/4” holes in the radiator. I nut and bolted the radiator through those holes.

Now the reason for the 26” wasn’t for any increase in coolant or air flow over a radiator space (hence why I didn’t go hog wild cutting the rad support up). The man goal was more room for fans. As has been discussed even the 22” rad I had was able to cool the motor down it was the fans that were too weak. So now that I have a 26” rad I was able to put 2 12” fans pulling. I’m using Spal “medium” depth fans that are rated for 1200cfm each. For comparison the old 10” fans I had were no name ones that came with the rad and were rated for 800 but that was questionable.

180 degree thermostat, still have the high flow water pump but mainly because I figured it was already installed and not leaking so I didn’t want to mess with it. I’ve sat in the shop for 20 min and with no external air flow over the motor and it settles in at 190. It was mid 80s and stupid humid the day of the test.

Needless to say I’m very happy now and honestly had I know that I didn’t have to cut up the car to get the advantage of a 26” I would have done it from day one.