Anyone with blockfilling experiance please step in.
04-28-2006, 04:41 PM
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Anyone with blockfilling experiance please step in. I am currently building a new motor for my Single Turbo Vette(LT1).
With my power goals I decided to do an approx. 1/2 fill (to the bottom of the water pump bolt holes) based on advice I recieved leading up to the build that it would not effect cooling adversly. After doing the fill it has turned out very well and have about 2" of non filed waterjacket but I cannot help but feel a little nervous at the loss of waterjacket.
Can anyone give me their experiance with block filling and its effect on cooling, this car is a AutoX/street/cruise in car.
With my power goals I decided to do an approx. 1/2 fill (to the bottom of the water pump bolt holes) based on advice I recieved leading up to the build that it would not effect cooling adversly. After doing the fill it has turned out very well and have about 2" of non filed waterjacket but I cannot help but feel a little nervous at the loss of waterjacket.
Can anyone give me their experiance with block filling and its effect on cooling, this car is a AutoX/street/cruise in car.
04-28-2006, 07:09 PM
#3
No problem if your cooling system is up to it. I short-filled my 4-bolt block as well, and it's a street driven blown 383. I did upgrade to a huge Griffin radiator and Evans Waterless Coolant, plus 2 e-fans: a 12" and a 14".
Most of the heat in the cylinders is in the top 1".
Jim
Most of the heat in the cylinders is in the top 1".
Jim
04-29-2006, 12:51 AM
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I have a half filled 4 bolt block that is being built right now. My engine builder has assured me that a good quality cooling system and the car will be fine even to daily drive (I won't be doing that anyways)....
he also told me that the block filler actually insulates the coolant from the heat coming from the oil in the pan so it actually helps a bit keeping the coolant temps down... not saying a non-filled block won't run cooler just that the half fill helps cool itself down by insulating the coolant from the oil heat... I don't know if I'd autocross it though... aren't those long runs round and round the track? I'm dragracing mine so it's short sprints then shut it down and cool it off. when i'm streetdriving i'm not gonna be in bumper to bumper traffic.....
he also told me that the block filler actually insulates the coolant from the heat coming from the oil in the pan so it actually helps a bit keeping the coolant temps down... not saying a non-filled block won't run cooler just that the half fill helps cool itself down by insulating the coolant from the oil heat... I don't know if I'd autocross it though... aren't those long runs round and round the track? I'm dragracing mine so it's short sprints then shut it down and cool it off. when i'm streetdriving i'm not gonna be in bumper to bumper traffic.....
04-29-2006, 01:10 AM
#5
when i'm streetdriving i'm not gonna be in bumper to bumper traffic.....
That idea about protecting from radiant heat from the oilpan sounds bogus - the major heat source is right about in the center of each bank - the cylinders.
Jim
04-29-2006, 01:18 AM
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well where i streetdrive and the frequency there of the chance of bumper to bumper is minimal..... i'm talking like short drives to car shows (like 7 miles).... no highway usage as my TH400 and 3.89's don't much like extended 70mph cruising... 
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04-29-2006, 12:56 PM
#10
Running short fill in bumper to bumper traffic here. Filled to the plugs using a BeCool Radiator and CSI E-pump. Coolant stays fine. You will need to add an oil cooler if you want the oil to stay cooler The fill keeps the heat from the oil out of the coolant so yes that part is true. With the fill my car runs so cold the heater won't get hot and the fans almost never come on. The oil temp on the other hand getts pretty warm so I am adding an Oil cooler
I filled mine beacue I know I want to push the HP close to 1K and it is just a little extra strength
The fill keeps the heat from the oil out of the coolant so yes that part is true. With the fill my car runs so cold the heater won't get hot and the fans almost never come on. The oil temp on the other hand getts pretty warm so I am adding an Oil cooler I filled mine beacue I know I want to push the HP close to 1K and it is just a little extra strength