The radiator is a 3 core crossflow like woud go in a '74 up Nova. It had a cheap crossflow aluminum radiator from Northern in it and it's definately running cooler with the copper brass just not cool enough.
Kevin Johnson wrote:How about he actually obtained a 400 block with 350 heads and the steam holes for the siamesed bores were not drilled in the head gaskets (and heads) -- also fits the symptoms. Or possibly a complete 400 with undrilled 350 head gasket? Or possibly a 400 with clogged steam holes?
Some really easy way to check the stroke?
I am trying to imagine what might go wrong if you have a bunch of sbc parts sitting around and you try to make a complete motor out of them but you don't know the differences between a 400 and 350.
It's a 350, 350 balancer and flywheel on it anyway. It had that ugly rebuilder green paint on it when he brought it to the shop for us to put in the truck originally. It was used and he said he bought it from a friend that had it sitting in his shop for about 4 years.
how about this? over the years, at least three customers have brought engines into my shop that have been "sitting around for awhile". one was full of dog food. two full of mouse nest material {shredded newspaper and rags}. when this stuff gets wet , you know what happens. maybe, if you did'nt tear this engine down, you did'nt see, or inspect the cooling system. also had a brand new radiator with a rag in the inlet. must have been a disgruntled employee. every thing else you have done seems ok. shouldn't be hard to cool a 350 in that truck.
jimjamm65 wrote:how about this? over the years, at least three customers have brought engines into my shop that have been "sitting around for awhile". one was full of dog food. two full of mouse nest material {shredded newspaper and rags}. when this stuff gets wet , you know what happens. maybe, if you did'nt tear this engine down, you did'nt see, or inspect the cooling system. also had a brand new radiator with a rag in the inlet. must have been a disgruntled employee. every thing else you have done seems ok. shouldn't be hard to cool a 350 in that truck.
I was thinking about this too but wouldn't some of this junk have come out all the times he has worked on the cooling system and been an alarm?
most of the time, yes, but one engine still had stuff falling out of the cores(empty block, now on the stand) after tanking,boring-honing and decking. those mice really know how to pack stuff away. damp bits of rags are hard to get out.if you never took the heads off, you'd never see it.
Or possibly a complete 400 with undrilled 350 head gasket? Or possibly a 400 with clogged steam holes?
