taking out radiator - cooling options

[dusterdave173]

BEAUTIFUL PAINT SCHEME!!
LOVE IT  Show more pix--

[jimc]

Currently I run water in the block. I read a post about the engine making more power wet as opposed to dry. In the past I have run my water pump and looped around and had a heater core just to cool it down between rounds, when I bracket raced an older car. My engine builder wants water in it as well.

[George]

Currently I run water in the block. I read a post about the engine making more power wet as opposed to dry. In the past I have run my water pump and looped around and had a heater core just to cool it down between rounds, when I bracket raced an older car. My engine builder wants water in it as well.

I started a thread that eventually got into the subject. http://www.frontenginedragsters.org/forum/index.php?topic=312.msg1340#msg1340

As for me , I would never put a radiator in a alky burning FED. I run a Dart 230 iron head and a LIL M block fully filled with no water.

[masracingtd1167]

Dose that pump fit between the fuel pump and drive ?

[Paul New]

http://www.frontenginedragsters.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1510.0;attach=4082

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[/quote]

Dose that pump fit between the fuel pump and drive ?

Look behind the fuel pump extension but yes it does

[wideopen231]

As  have said here and few other sites ,I have rub dry blocks with alky since 1986,not that I have raced non stop since then. I have run it as normal system and used some tuning tricks to cool motor on return road.Never had issue. Now running round robbin could be issue if not cooling engine by running touch rich at time. Yes you might have to change oi more often than some like but for me that not a big deal.

With my deal.Solid block and billet hads its not even a option so know few tuning tricks will be a must.

[dreracecar]

Its the side by side exhaust valves in a SBC that creates the problem that the cooling or temp stablazation is a benifit. Chrys with their top and bottom valve araingment in not affected  and can run as billet.

[ricardo1967]

Its the side by side exhaust valves in a SBC that creates the problem that the cooling or temp stablazation is a benifit. Chrys with their top and bottom valve araingment in not affected  and can run as billet.

What the man said... compounded by the fact that the elephant is a lot more meatier than the mouse.

[Paul New]

Its the side by side exhaust valves in a SBC that creates the problem that the cooling or temp stablazation is a benifit. Chrys with their top and bottom valve araingment in not affected  and can run as billet.

Exactly I never started having problems eating head gaskets until I started to lean on it, 7.20's head gaskets running dry would last me 3-4 events once I started running 7.0-7teens the gaskets would go away pretty quick. Now running water in the heads I can get away with 6.60's-6.70's for a season on the same gaskets which for me is 40 or so passes.

[wideopen231]

Good points on SBC exhaust setup.Never raced SBC well not  on track,have had some bada-- smallblock street motors. I have run bbc and hemi dry w/o issue.

[JrFuel Hayden]

For you guys running a water pump on your alky burners, do you have to run a pump because of the blower or alum heads or both ?
I would think the alum heads cool better/ faster than iron. All the fast all iron JrFuel teams don't run pumps, and most run water in the block and heads. The guys that run dry is because they have cracks in the heads so they leak water. As I stated in that 2011 post, alky burners run better hot, like we run 180°-200+° when staging, keeping in mind the engine will cool down some when that cool alky hits the engine when you go leave the start line. I know a JrFuel racer in Texas that had to replace his alum heads with iron heads because of the rules for the association he was racing with. He was unhappy his car was going to be heavier, but he did dyno his new iron heads, and was shocked he gained 50 HP with iron heads. Heat is energy and of course that's what we are trying to make is more energy. The alum heads are very good at cooling.
So, unless you are tooling around the pits driving your alky burning race car, I don't think you want to cool it. I would think you would want to tow it back to the pits so you can "read" the plugs with-out a bunch of idle. we have the track staff give us a warning when they want us in the staging lanes, so we can warm-up our motors before pushing out. Again looking for 200° after the burn-out and staging. 160° if running dry.  When we are getting ready for the finals, sometimes they are rushing us, so we just warm them up for a shorter period of time. I shoot for 180°+ in the pits reading my infared temp gun on the heads, but away from the magneto.
Keep in mind that old theory 100 lbs is worth a tenth. So Pete Robinson always said anything that doesn't float away when you take it off the car only adds weight to your race car. So how much does that radiator and pump weigh ?

Have fun drilling every thing in sight !
Jon

[GlennLever]

I run an index so the ability to run the number is important.

I know that if I come to the line at 165 degrees and I have the right tune up for the air it will run 8.020 at 165 MPH

The water pump and radiator mean I can turn the vehicle around in about 10 minutes in the pitts (cool it down).

The pump radiator and water is a hold over from when I ran gas and drove back to the pitts.

I don't do that any more.

I could remove all that stuff but than I would have to relearn my tune up.

With me it is just a mater of choice.

[JrFuel Hayden]

Glenn, the track wants 8.00 bracket racers in a 10 minute turn-a-round, WOW they are tuff on racers and their crews.

Jon

[GlennLever]

Glenn, the track wants 8.00 bracket racers in a 10 minute turn-a-round, WOW they are tuff on racers and their crews.

Jon

I sorry, not what I meant, I have the ability to turn it around in 10 minutes, not a requirement.

Before running 8.00 index I ran ET Bracket which could be called that quick, the 8.0 index is no where near that fast, although after going rounds and getting late I have experienced tracks wanting you up very quickly for finial rounds.

Last year Gateway Motorsports Park really pushed us as it was late and a storm was coming and I was really happy to be able to turn it around quickly.

[JrFuel Hayden]

Yes I know what you mean Glenn, when we have been in the finals, the track likes to run us before NTF, NFC so they are the last cars down the track. But we can handle a quick turn around with our crew, I down load RacePak, and look at it, and I look at the plugs, decide what tune-up changes, while Bud checks valves, makes jetting or timing changes, while our driver packs the chute, while other crew members drain puke tank, refuel, and put some air in the slicks, then because the motor is still warm we may just fire it up for a minute or two just to make it sounds right.

Sounds like FUN, right !
Jon