cooling a 500 Caddy in an Elco

[steelybill]

I'm gonna use a 500 (508 now) Caddy in my Elco, and wondering about what it's gonna take to keep it cool. I have a 4-core GM radiator, copper type, heavy as hell, which may work. I'm also thinking about a Be Cool or Griffin aluminum type. The aluminum types seem to do the job with less weight, mass etc.
Since the Caddy isn't that common, the cooling info isn't handy, like say for a BB Chevy etc.
Anyone know of a combo like this ??

[Viet_Vet]

Yep treat it as a BB and you'll do ok--i see a nice 3 row aluminum with 2400cfm fan on e-bay from time to time--i have the copper BB rad with 2 fans and it cools fine tho no A/C yet-- Glenn

[steelybill]

Thanks Viet Vet. I'll have AC also, but an aluminum BB radiator should do the job, hey?
Be Cool has one for up to 450 HP for El Camino, which may work OK.

[Mike P]

I'm collecting parts for the same swap in an 83. From what I've read about that swap many of the guys are using the 4 row from the donor Caddy (which should be close to a bolt in on the 75, but a bit more work to fit in a Gen 5 like mine) or aluminum replacement type radiators.

If you decide to go with the 4 row you have and it seems extremely heavy you might want to consider having it rodded/boiled out as often times a lot of that wieght is calcium buildup in the tubes.

Personally I prefer to use a mechanical 7 blade fan with the HD clutch and a good shroud as my experience is they seem to move more air than the electric units.

I started using the aluminum radiators about 3 ago and IMO they do do a better job than the Brass copper units, and the prices have dropped to the point where they are at or below the cost of the copper units if you can even find a decent 4 row any more.

[americanhandy]

keep the gm radiator best you can get and you already have it put elec. fans on it youll stay COOL

[CoyoteOn2]

I'm not sure what kind of Summers you have to deal with where your located, but your stock GM may be OK for you.
Now if you had to deal with Summers like in Nevada, Arizona, or the like, where Temps often climb to 115* to 122*, I would recommend going with an Aluminum, 2 row, with 1" tubes, and installing a Duel Flex-A-Lite →4600cfm← Fan set up.(cfm is the IMPORTANT thing you have to watch for, most fans are half that)
↓↓ (see the links) (Also as a side note ~ you won't get that kind of cfm from a mechanical fan in stop and go traffic)
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BCI-12008/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-295/






After fighting Heating issues with my BB 454 '77 4th gen for two summers here in Vegas. I went with that Combo and from that point on, I never broke 205*/210* in the Summer, in traffic, w/air. All I can add is that sold me, and will always be one of the first upgrades on any future projects. And for about $860.00 for both, with the thermostat control (MADE IN USA) that ain't bad.
Just something to think about Brother.

[Mike P]

You make a VERY valid point about the stop and go traffic Larry and something I didn't really take into account. The majority of my driving is usually on the highways and if I have cooing problems it's usually pulling some of the hills/long grades during the summer with the AC on. I guess it tends to slant my view a bit. How Bills truck is going to be used should definitely be taken into consideration when he makes the decision.

You're also right on the money about the two 1" tube design. A lot of the overseas radiators that come in don't have the wide 1" tubes which really make a difference. From what I read when the aluminum radiators first started becoming popular many years ago is that copper is really MORE efficient at transferring heat than aluminum, but as the aluminum is more rigid than copper the tubes can be made wider allowing more surface cooling area. Basically the more efficient design overcomes the less efficient material.

[steelybill]

Thanks for all the replies. I had cooling issues with the 400 in my last Elcamino, even with a new HD/AC type radiator. Turned out that the fan clutch, which was new, didn't work right. Another new clutch did the job.
Temp-wise, it rarely gets above 95 degrees around here. I'll get the copper radiator inspected, and cleaned if the core is OK.
The radiator that was in the '76 Caddy was way too wide to fit the core support in the Elco, so I'm just trying to get things figured out ahead of time.

[Mike P]

LOL we call 95 a cool day out here.

[CoyoteOn2]

Originally Posted by Mike P

LOL we call 95 a cool day out here.

That's for sure ! Long Sleeve Shirt or light Coat Weather.

But YES Bill, you should be fine with a good Stock BB Radiator with those kinds of temps.

All you need when you do small block to big block swap is a 4 raw radiator and an Electric fan. Other then that nothing else is needed. It is better to get a duel Electric fan system like CoyoteOn2 showed. I put a 402 into my 86 El Camino and a 4 row rad with one electric fan is all that is needed.

[Viet_Vet]

The curved fans are quieter but flow slightly less CFM's tho --just so you know--glenn