V8 Guys? Overheating issues- Ordered Renegades complete radiator setup, Also considering an LS1 swap down the road Options

[JRust]

So my buick 215 is getting to hot. I wasn't sure how accurate my gage was. On my way home from Parts obsolete swap meet on sunday it was in the mid 90's. My engine temp got up to 230 but seemed to be doing okay. Then it started cutting out on me. I pulled over to let it cool a it. After a good half hour I drove the rest of the way home. Engine temps were still close to 230 though. I have an old school setup I think.

My question is what radiator setup are you using? Also what engine temps are usual for you? Just trying to see which way to go. I'd like to make it better without forking out another grand for renegades new setup right now. Suggestions please!

[JRust]

Sweet! I was going to have you measure your radiator. If you happen to get on tonight or in the morning before you leave. Measure it for me & give me a call. I am going to go by a racing place tommorow to see what they have available. Also my car does not have a themostat on the engine at all. Not sure where my gage is getting te temp? Cylinder head temp maybe?

If I don't have luck with finding a radiator I am going to at least get mine set more upright & add the cuts in the front to allow more air to come thru

[byndbad914]

If I don't have luck with finding a radiator I am going to at least get mine set more upright & add the cuts in the front to allow more air to come thru

J - I dunno your budget and skill level, so bear with me here, but maybe check out Ron Davis or sincerely consider the Renegade radiator kit mentioned before.

Ron Davis makes the Renegade radiators but won't specifically sell it to you direct. That said, RD makes a bunch of off-the-shelf dual pass rads and will have one that should fit IIRC. Get the tallest one you can fit IMO and lay it forward - dual pass, 2-core 1" capillary minimum. RD will set you back about $850 for a good dual pass with integrated fan shrouds and dual fans. Then you will want to fab up some sheet alum to seal off the radiator to your inlet hole. That is the question of fab cuz I believe the Renegade kit is right at $1K and has all of that pre-made and ready to install, so it really is a pretty slick kit.

Griffin are good, cheaper rads but I can't remember if they have a short enough rad to fit, even laid forward, in the width you will be limited to, but if they have something in the 16" height range or less, it will be cheaper than RD BUT will not have a shroud and fans, which gets back to your fab skill level.

Any time you can make the alum shrouding yourself you will save money, but you will only save it there. The rads are pricey no matter what and the fans are what they are, just shop around as it is cheaper from Summit and such than RD and Renegade of course with the middleman markup.