ELECMAN

what is the normal operating temp for a 455 engine.And by putting a fan in front of radiator as a pusher will it make and difference in performance.and what is the amp of a stock alternator.

mugzilla

169 to 180 with the cooler for power, the latter for economy /clean burn ...

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...html#post88346

It will cause drag on the alternator so a cut-off for performance mode will help. Your OAI hood will pump enough air into the engine bay to impede radiator air flow so be sure to have your system foam sealed...


Your alternator would be matched to a car more than the engine ...

63 amps and up depending on options ...

My cars seem to be happy with 110 units ...

It's like a 330 watt stereo that you listen to at 100 watts. Plus I have a Petronix and I like like to ave ample juice ...

It will cause drag also but then you have a 455 so it's no biggie ...

70 cutlass s

You can get a electric fan from the junk yard cheap.

ELECMAN

Thanks guys , my car runs at 195 at normal operating temp is that good or bad

70 cutlass s

That's a little hot for me, I would just change the thermosat to 160 or 180 before I did anything else.

mugzilla

you can run hot with an expansion tank ...

wolfman98

I had a heating problem with my 455 but I had a 2 row rad and changed it over to a 4 row with a 180 thermostat. before you could not idle the car for very long cause it would run over 200 but now I can let it sit and idle and it runs at 180 or 185 if it's warm outside.

Blk71SX

Remember, a thermostat controls minimum engine operating temps. Cooling system condition, ambient temp, and air flow thru the radiator determine the maximum temps.

A 160 degree t'stat has the same flow rate as a 195.

In the early motoring days cooling systems were not pressurized and coolant consisted of plain water with alcohol added for antifreeze. Ethanol boils at 173 so temps had to be kept low. I think this mind set has been passed down thru the years.

Your Olds is running very efficient at 195

ELECMAN

Thanks for the input Guys.

jeffreyalman

stupid question, as I have no temp gauges on any of my cars, I use an infrared therm. where should I aim it? I get different readings at the top of the rad (where the upper hose goes on the radiator) thermostat, waterpump

I am getting about 195 at the top hose, and 140s at the bottom hose / waterpump area.

What freaked me out was a temp of over 300 deg at the block near the spark plugs.

ELECMAN

To tell you the truth the temp guage would be more accurate than an infared they are not expensive most of them screw into the block where your factory temp sensor is.blk 71 is telling me that its normal running at 195

ELECMAN

Here are a set of guages i installed in place of the old 8 track player

Olds64

If your car doesn't overheat then why change the cooling system?

oldoldss

Something else to consider is that late 60's and early 70's Olds V-8's used a full-flow thermostat. This was more like a "flapper" that opened fully; not the little, restrictive "pellet" type thermostats that are sold now. I bought a high flow thermostat several years ago (available from Summit and many others) and my engine runs a lot cooler now (1971 Cutlass) -- heat doesn't blast through the floorbords anymore.