OK, the Camaro's been in the shop for almost a week, with the new fastburn 385, cam, etc going in. Wooo Hooo! They're detailing the engine bay, and all the lines, hoses, etc will be steel braded, some AN, etc. They are really going to make it look nice. The black valve covers that come with the motor look sorta dull though, so we're going with grooved aluminum. And an aircleaner to match. I think they're from Moon Eyes.
I started thinking today about radiators. My old enging would never tune right, and it always ran hot in stop and go traffic. So I was thinking of replacing the radiator to go with the new motor. And, of course I'm thinking aluminum. What would you recommend? And, should go with an electric fan?

Yes.....aluminum.....big aluminum. http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Products/157/

If your smart you can customize your radiator to fit the twin Spal electric set up exactly. These are very good fans and work well with this combination. They are also available from PRC.

If you really want a big sucker you can put the MarkVIII fan in. It's big and will suck down 40ish amps!

Steve
I'm using a BeCool 60009 aluminum rad in my 69. I find it cools well and just bolts right in. I elected to use a Spal 16" puller fan http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/cooling/16inch.shtml and a Centech fan controller http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/cooling/fc2p.shtml The fan controller is slick. No capileri<sp> tubes to cause leaks and has a built in relay. If you have an electric temperature gauge, it's the way to go. I really liked the dual fan set up mentioned by Hotrodsrj but if you have a stock alternator and stock external voltage regulator it will over tax the electrical system and you have to run two relays. If you have a beefed up electrical system then dual fans will ensure it won't overheat but I haven't had a problem with my single. It was cheaper and effective.
Jim

black valve covers,
i'm retstoring our original 68 RS small block and I thought the valve covers were orange, not sure I recall and the engine still have some original paint, but the valve cover paint is all off.
going back to stock, what color do I use?
steve

Steve,

I'm in the middle of an aluminum radiator (C&R Racing crossflow) and electric fan (Mark VIII) swap. If you wnat to check it out, or bench race about various options (I've beaten them all to death) you are welcome to come over. Send me an email if you are interested.

I'll definately second the C&R and MarkVIII set-up.

Food for thought, the C&R being a cross flow with a heat exchanger and a MarkVIII fan costs less than all other combinations.....and in the end is more functional by controlling the two most important temperatures in the engine at the same time, reduces plumbing, frees up space and cools better in the overall......IMHO.

It may have just been the motor or the water pump. I'd probably wait and see how the new motor runs before going out spending money on an aluminum unit and electric fans. Unless of course you just want to. :D

You should definetly have the radiator redone before installing the new motor if you decide to try it first.

I thought we all decided last year that the stock fan shroud and a thermostatically controlled clutch fan was the way to fly!

I use that set up up with a stock (new) 3 row core copper and brass radiator and it works fine.

MytMini and BPOS,
Yeah, I've spent a good deal of money on this little project already, so I would like to see if the old stuff, properly prepped, will work. And I have a feeling it just might. I'm not going racing, wont even be using 100% of capability of this motor anyway. But, if it doesn't, then spending a little more to keep things cool is like insurance. We'll see.
Carl, I'm guessing you're changing your set up for more racing? Or were you overheating? What were you running before the swap? It looked pretty standard in the pics.

Steve,

With all of the mods I needed to make to the car, in the long run going aluminum/electric is going to be the best route for me.

I have a 4-core 23" radiator, fan, clutch, and shroud that will be for sale soon, but the setup is for a short pump. Even on hot days with the AC on it never budged from 180*, so it has more than enough cooling capability.

Steve W
Call me crazy but, didn't Don Yenko run copper three row radiators and a 427? I know aluminum is better but the copper worked well for years and if your not racing why not go with the copper? The price difference is well worth it to me.

I went with a Fluidyne Radiator that I went through Summit Racing to buy, and it has no problems cooling my 383. Nice bolt up installation, easy and simple.