GamblerSeanAZ
Member
Looking for insights to the stock cooling system performance in hot climates, up long highway grades.
I took my 1988 Fifth Avenue on its first road trip after the Holley 2300 and GM HEI conversion on the 318. The engine seems to run just fine, and I don't notice any general problems with the cooling system after I replaced the fan clutch. I'm in Arizona, so we can assume the ambient temperature was 100 degrees. The temp gauge generally stayed right in the middle, except for on some long grades. By the end of a 7 mile, 6% grade, with the A/C turned off, and running in second gear at 55 MPH, the temp gauge was just a hair past the last tick mark before the H. After the hill, the temp gauge returned to normal.
Is this typical cooling system performance for these cars? If not, where should I begin to focus my attention for upgrades or replacement parts? Is there a common radiator upgrade for the M-bodies? Discuss
I took my 1988 Fifth Avenue on its first road trip after the Holley 2300 and GM HEI conversion on the 318. The engine seems to run just fine, and I don't notice any general problems with the cooling system after I replaced the fan clutch. I'm in Arizona, so we can assume the ambient temperature was 100 degrees. The temp gauge generally stayed right in the middle, except for on some long grades. By the end of a 7 mile, 6% grade, with the A/C turned off, and running in second gear at 55 MPH, the temp gauge was just a hair past the last tick mark before the H. After the hill, the temp gauge returned to normal.
Is this typical cooling system performance for these cars? If not, where should I begin to focus my attention for upgrades or replacement parts? Is there a common radiator upgrade for the M-bodies? Discuss