Clueless on COOLING, SBC cooling Options

[pete]

For you V8 guys. I'm getting close to installing my Renegade adapted 350 engine and I need to source (low budget) a complete cooling system. What will I need? Already started looking for the Gates Green Stripe hose. JEGS sells it in 10' lengths for around $135. Seems expensive.

I need to check dimensions but I was considering this radiator: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110799074907?ssPag...984.m1438.l2649
Can anyone offer advise on whether it will work? It doesn't have a drain.

Cooling fans seem reasonable and again I will need to figure out dimensions but I was looking at these:http://www.ebay.com/itm/230669549138?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I know I will need more "stuff". Is there a thread on a SBC cooling system? Can't seem to find one.

Let me know. Thanks!

[slothness]

Bottom line, don't short change yourself on cooling. If your car overheats then you cannot drive it, thus you will not enjoy it and you will have to spend money later to correct any problems. That is, if you've kept your sanity long enough not to sell the problem off to somebody else to dump more money into. Don't ask me how I know.

Are you going to build your shroud, have it built or buy one? You need one, my temps dropped dramatically once I installed one. I also purchased fans that will fill the maximum space of the shroud so there is very little "dead" space.

This is the setup I have:
Radiator
I built my own shroud with aluminum I purchased off of amazon here
Coolant Catch Can
I got a pair of the highest flowing 11" electric fans I could find at my local auto performance retailer for 60 bucks each which is pretty steep, but I sure as hell don't worry about overheating.

Get all these items first then worry about getting out the air trapped in the system. For that its actually quite easy. Before installing, drill a couple small holes in your thermostat for air to escape, fill the car with your desired fluid mix (I use 80/20 - 80% deionized water 20% antifreeze, 1 bottle of water wetter). Fill your catch can halfway with antifreeze and connect it to the fill port Renegade provided. I use 16lb lev-r-vent so I leave the cap ON but the lever open and the catch can cap OFF. Jack the car up from the back, start the engine and let it warm up. DO NOT rev past 3k rpm until the thermostat is open (depends if your are running 160 or 180 so it might take awhile), cavitation is a bitch and a real problem with these water pumps. Once water starts to sputter out of the fill port I close the lever, then check it frequently to see if water or air is coming out. When the engine cools down it will suck water from the catch can not air. Do this cycle a couple of times until eventually when you check the fill port it is full, now you are done. Still sane? Not me.

And one more thing, put a 25lb cap on the radiator if you get one with a fill port, that way the rear fill port will open, not the front one on the rad which will flood your trunk.

Yes, I know all this because....just do as I say not as I do! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)