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Author Topic: taking out radiator - cooling options  (Read 24091 times)

Offline FEDNV

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taking out radiator - cooling options
« on: January 26, 2015, 07:54:57 AM »
Since I am redoing everything on my car and running alcohol I have decided to not put my radiator back in the car.  I was planning on filling the block with water but was wondering if just using block off plates for the water pump is fine or if I should use something like this http://www.jegs.com/i/Dedenbear/302/WH2/10002/-1?parentProductId=1418208 and a remote water pump to just circulate water? 

While running alcohol I have never run my water pump until after a pass as it is fine during the burnout and staging and reaches about 160-180 and about 200 after the pass.  I also warm the car up and heat up the oil in the pits before staging.

I also got a new oil pan that has a pan heater.

thanks
Scott
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dreracecar

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2015, 08:23:45 AM »
Are you running a blower???
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Offline GlennLever

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2015, 09:09:38 AM »
I run a pump and radiator in the dragster.

If I had to do over I would mount the radiator pump and fan in the trailer in the pits and run quick disconnect hoses from the trailer to the engine when return to the pits to cool the engine down for the next round.

I have seen that setup work and it works well.
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Glenn R. Lever
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Offline H.G. Wells

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2015, 09:25:08 AM »
If you are towed to the line and towed back to the pits after the run you should be fine dry. Lots of cars run water in the block and heads with no pump and it steams out as a direct loss system, this will reduce hot spots but I never liked it. Glenns thought on the trailer system would be great if you are making rounds.

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Offline FEDNV

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2015, 09:39:47 AM »
I do not run a blower just N/A.

I was told by the guy that does my heads not to run it dry as it will cause hot spots.

I was still going to run an overflow tank off of the normal spot on neck filler if that makes any difference.

I am towed to the line and towed back to the pits.  I run NE1 so I normally have some time between rounds for cool down.

I have an open trailer so no way I could do that radiator deal (hard enough to carry all my crap now) but I guess I could always drain it and refill with cool fresh water if needed between rounds.
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Offline ricardo1967

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2015, 10:26:32 AM »
Quote from: FEDNV on January 26, 2015, 09:39:47 AM
...
 but I guess I could always drain it and refill with cool fresh water if needed between rounds.
...
I wouldn't do that, as head gaskets and such may not like the thermal shock. In other hand, this may not be too different from the stationary radiator on a trailer...
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Offline GlennLever

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2015, 11:25:31 AM »
With the stationary radiator in the trailer there would be water in the block.

With the setup that I saw he was using air hoses as his quick connect/disconnect (small diameter).

With the small diameter hoses and the long length of hoses the thermo shock would be quite mild.

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Glenn R. Lever
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dreracecar

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2015, 11:26:12 AM »
Iron or alu heads???   I run a waterpump (River Rat---fuel pump extention--cam driven) on a blown alky deal (heads only) and then I know people that dont and they run fine dry. Heard the Hot Spot story before, never paid attention to it when running injected and was never a problem. There is a NE-1 page on FB , talk to the racers on there
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Offline husker-rat

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2015, 12:31:37 PM »
I would not change it. If it was working before why change it? Too many variables when doing such a change. You will be spending more time changing things than what you will gain. I tried this on a  D/ED in the 70's and ended up putting it all back on. Just my 2 cents worth.
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Offline Paul New

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2015, 12:34:11 PM »
Quote from: dreracecar on January 26, 2015, 11:26:12 AM
Iron or alu heads???   I run a waterpump (River Rat---fuel pump extention--cam driven) on a blown alky deal (heads only) and then I know people that dont and they run fine dry. Heard the Hot Spot story before, never paid attention to it when running injected and was never a problem. There is a NE-1 page on FB , talk to the racers on there


I have been running the river rat pump for 10+ years on my blown Alky sbc
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Offline tony1966

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2015, 03:13:21 PM »
I was planning a similar thing this year with my junk. I was planning on eliminating the radiator an looping the water pump lines so i can keep the w/p running and not kill the temp but keep water flowing. We'll see...

Tony
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Offline FEDNV

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2015, 03:54:24 PM »
I run aluminum heads and I have already had an exhaust port crack and fixed so I want to put water in it.

Tony that is a great idea for just looping the line on the water pump.  I might give that a try as I already have all the parts to do that.
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Offline Paul New

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2015, 07:01:46 PM »
Here is the River Rat pump on my car


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Offline Paul New

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2015, 07:12:10 PM »
You can see my reservoir tank mounted to the cylinder head with water running through the cylinder heads and tank only I run solid copper head gaskets with no water ports


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dreracecar

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Re: taking out radiator - cooling options
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2015, 08:17:13 AM »
Same system I have been running for 20 years now
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