Cooling issues

383Scampman said

O.k. , start with a clean cooling system . Next , install a high flow water pump (A/C) . Then a highflow thermostat@ 160-180* . OEM 18" fan and shroud . Make sure your pulleys are the same diameter . Use 50/50 coolant with w ater wetter . At 190-200* you are almost there . another 5-10* cooler and your golden . La engines were designed to run cooler .

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The stock thermostat at least on a '70 318 is 195 degrees, and it appears according to the service manual that the others are 190. Everything he has there looks like my original stock 318 stuff. I wouldn't run a thermostat cooler than 180, its going to do just about nothing in this situation anyway. Nobody should need water wetter anyway.

The A/C pumps actually are the 6-blade ones also, not the 8-blades.

190-200 degrees indicates there is no issue present. Especially if the thermostat is unknown. It may have a stock 190 in there in which case it functions perfectly.

If you want it to run cooler, you need a bigger radiator and a shroud and check the thermostat you have.