Radiator
I am restoring/modifying my '68 Formula S FB 340 and need to change to the '70+ water pump setup as I am running Edelbrock aluminum heads and the alternator sill not clear the head when using the '68 iron WP. Didn't know this going in, but need to deal with it. I want to run an aluminum radiator with electric fans but I had clearance issues when running the 2018 version of the Champion radiator and fan combination. So I made careful measurements of the engine and had my brother measure his Cuda for clearance as mine is in the restoration shop without the engine installed. The drawing above is done in Excel with 1/2" square cellsto mock up any radiator if dimensions are given. The engine is 22.5"L x 19"W in dark blue. The timing chain cover is 2.5" and the aluminum WP is 5.5". My brother measured the distance from the timing chain/WP mounting face to the radiator support at 12". So this is the critical distance that the WP, fan (mechanical or electric) and radiator have to fit in.
The stock WP (iron) is 4 3/4" wide and the '70+ WP is 5 1/2" wide. If the radiator is 3" and the fan assembly is 3.5", there is no clearance especially considering that I am using the WP fan mounting face for measurement. So you have to include 1/4" for the bolts and fan pilol pin in these measurements.
The way I see it, if you run two each 10" electric fans, there may be clearance between the fans for the WP snout to fit without hitting anything. Can anyone verify that this is correct?
I am assuming that there are no dimensional changes between the 67-69 A-Bodies and the 70-74 A-bodies that would change this analysis. I live at 5800 feet in the Denver area so air density is about 25% less than at sea level. As cooling is a function of mass flow, not CFM itself, I need better radiator cooling than most people. I would appreciate any comments from people that live at higher altitudes on cooling. And yes, HP is down at this elevation as well. Having grown up in SoCal at sea level, I miss the added HP from my 340.
My Cuda is an original 340 FS FB in Black. Had AMD replace finders and rear valance, but otherwise solid sheetmetal. Added US Car Toos Stage II stiffening kit incluing subframe connectors, torque boxes, upper control arm support brackets, and radiator yoke support. Should be a solid foundation. Having the k-frame stiffened and then will begin reassembly.
![20230111_102910[1].jpg](https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/attachments/20230111_102910-1-jpg.1716035780/ "20230111_102910[1].jpg")
![20230111_102854[1].jpg](https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/attachments/20230111_102854-1-jpg.1716035781/ "20230111_102854[1].jpg")
I am restoring/modifying my '68 Formula S FB 340 and need to change to the '70+ water pump setup as I am running Edelbrock aluminum heads and the alternator sill not clear the head when using the '68 iron WP. Didn't know this going in, but need to deal with it. I want to run an aluminum radiator with electric fans but I had clearance issues when running the 2018 version of the Champion radiator and fan combination. So I made careful measurements of the engine and had my brother measure his Cuda for clearance as mine is in the restoration shop without the engine installed. The drawing above is done in Excel with 1/2" square cellsto mock up any radiator if dimensions are given. The engine is 22.5"L x 19"W in dark blue. The timing chain cover is 2.5" and the aluminum WP is 5.5". My brother measured the distance from the timing chain/WP mounting face to the radiator support at 12". So this is the critical distance that the WP, fan (mechanical or electric) and radiator have to fit in.
The stock WP (iron) is 4 3/4" wide and the '70+ WP is 5 1/2" wide. If the radiator is 3" and the fan assembly is 3.5", there is no clearance especially considering that I am using the WP fan mounting face for measurement. So you have to include 1/4" for the bolts and fan pilol pin in these measurements.
The way I see it, if you run two each 10" electric fans, there may be clearance between the fans for the WP snout to fit without hitting anything. Can anyone verify that this is correct?
I am assuming that there are no dimensional changes between the 67-69 A-Bodies and the 70-74 A-bodies that would change this analysis. I live at 5800 feet in the Denver area so air density is about 25% less than at sea level. As cooling is a function of mass flow, not CFM itself, I need better radiator cooling than most people. I would appreciate any comments from people that live at higher altitudes on cooling. And yes, HP is down at this elevation as well. Having grown up in SoCal at sea level, I miss the added HP from my 340.
My Cuda is an original 340 FS FB in Black. Had AMD replace finders and rear valance, but otherwise solid sheetmetal. Added US Car Toos Stage II stiffening kit incluing subframe connectors, torque boxes, upper control arm support brackets, and radiator yoke support. Should be a solid foundation. Having the k-frame stiffened and then will begin reassembly.
