Mr. Trick

iTrader: (19)

My Dad has a 400 bored out .060 over he would like to put in his 66 Chevy II. He intneds to use this car as a street strip car but he would still like to be able to drive it to the track. The track is about 70 miles one way from where we live. He is afraid of the engine over heating, Is there any way to make this motor run cool enough to drive on the street.

jarediocamaro

I dont think you should have a problem keeping it cool. I had a factory style radiator in my 69 camaro, a stock water pump on my 73 big block, no thermostat and a manual fan. I was running really hot and my car at idle would get up to 230*! The only change I did was put in a 160* thermostat which helped a bit, but it still idled super high Than I put in a bigger fan. My one was 15 1/2 inches it was about 1 1/2" from the shroud. I stepped to an 18 incher and now i can idle my car all day and it wont pass 165*. When you dont run a thermostat water passes so fast its does not have time to exchange heat in the radiator.

Run a thermostat
The right Size fan (90% of the cooling is in the last inch of the fan shroud)
An adequate radiator
And you should have no problem

If not just bump up the size of the radiator or pop on a performance aluminum water pump.

slow trap

iTrader: (22)

with a good radiator,160-180 thermostat and a good fan heat should not be a problem at all.

6D9

iTrader: (1)

I am running a 400sbc in my 69 Camaro as well. I went with a new BBC radiator and a 2 speed Tarus electric fan. Cools like a SOB....

CTSV05

I have a .030 over 400 blk, no fill, plugged decks, a fairly small alum rad, electric pump, elec fan, 160* stat and it cruises around town at 160-180. It gets to a full 180 cruising at a steady 3000 rpm. That was in 90+ weather.

Oh, it runs 10s on motor.

hals73rs

iTrader: (4)

400's have been famous for running hot. The old myth started when people would put 350 heads on a 400 block and not drill the steam holes in the heads. Some motors had a tendency to run warm. I too run a 400 sbc .030 over without a problem. I have a Griffin 2-row aluminum radiator, 16" electric fan, Weiand alum pump and a 160 stat. I usually run just a couple of quarts of anti-freeze, a bottle of water wetter and fill it up with plain water. It never sees more than 180 even on the return road from making a pass. Plain water cools better than anti-freeze.... believe it or not.

Oh, and it runs 10's all motor............................. on pump gas!!

MrOverkill

iTrader: (1)

I pin the steam holes on every 400 I build, I have seen tooooo many production blocks spilt @ the steam holes otherwise. Just my personal experience, also I would take a 2 bolt 400 over a 4 bolt anyday, and put splayed caps on it. They seem to live longer, less deflection for some reason. They just work better.....

Mr. Trick

iTrader: (19)

Thanks for the Info. I'll pass it on to my Dad.

-db-

You could always sonic the bores just to make sure the .060" job is safe. There are .020", .030", .040" over pistons available for this engine with thin walls. Gotta remember this was an emissions engine and not the beefiest block Chevy produced. Other than the steam holes you should be fine.

uberLS-1

pinning?
can u explain further...maybe pictures?

Not meant to hi-jack, just interested