My car still has the 289 in it and if anything takes for ever to warm up.

I am getting ready to build a 302 to go in it with the GT40s, Holley 4 bbl, Weiand intake, mild cam, etc.

Would I be ok sticking with the stock radiator for now? I was thinking of running it for the time being with the cost of the motor and all...then if it has an issue with running hot I could always upgrade the radiator later. I usually don't go more than 10 to 20 minute drives in the car anyway...drive to work on Friday to the dojo on Saturday or car club meet on Saturday night, etc.

Do you think this would fly?

 

Take the cap off and look down into the radiator. Do you have 2 or 3 rows of cooling fins? If you have 3, you should be ok, assuming the radiator is in good shape. If only 2, you should start looking for a 3 row or aluminum replacement.

 

if its a good clean rad, with a fan shroud it should be good to go. I have the stock rad and it has since had a 302 put in, with mild cam as well. It gets hot quick.. but doesn't over heat.

 

What radiator do you have now? A good quality stock 3 core radiator will cool plenty of engine.

 

Mine is a stock one...not certain if it is 3 core or not though. I will get out there later tonight and have a look if I feel up to it. Going to the doctor tomorrow, bad pressure / ache in my lower right back and thinking I may have a gall bladder issue of some kind.

The radiator is clean...that is one thing the previous owner was good about was flushing it on a regular schedule.

I don't have a fan shroud right now. It wasn't on there when I bought the car about a year ago and if anything this engine runs on the cold side so I haven't gotten real serious about finding one to add it. I do plan to add one though at some point simply for safety reasons if nothing else. Just waiting really to find a good deal on one but when I am cleaning / painting the bay that would sure be a good time to add one.

I was just asking because I was talking to the engine builder today when I went by his place at lunch time. Thinking through everything I might need to get a pretty solid idea of a budget. Don't want to get 3/4 of the way done and then realize I didn't think of something that would take another couple of hundred.....or more.