Over heating

[retro77]

I have read several posts on overheating, and have learned a lot. However, does anyone have any comments / experience on whether venting the engine bay (under hood area) so the air moves thru the engine bay quicker, there-by pulling more hot air out, help with overheating? I am referring to hood vents, or a hood scoop with the opening toward the windshield or ??.

 

[Pa PITT]

.. From my experience I believe any of these means will help but no on of them will do it by it's self.
I believe, filling in the gaps beside the radiator did more for mine than any thing I ever did. That $102.00 radiator was also a big part on my improvement .. But All of them together never totally fixed mine..
Good Luck.

 

[nvrstuk]

Allowing heat to escape helps... it will reduce heat soak in the engine compartment.

Everybit helps. Won't do it on it's own but since 2+2+2+2 adds up...go for it!

I cut out my inner fenders but I had no option as my tires came up past the inner fenders on full stuff. Seemed to help with mine.

 

[bronconut73]

Pa is right.
I did a lot of stuff....but really until I replaced everything at once by doing the Explorer Serp swap I couldn't make a big enough difference.
The combo of "new" (reverse inlet) rad, and new water pump along with the amazing Explorer fan with some shroud mods has "finally" stopped my over heating problems. I never could afford or justify replacing everything at once but was forced to with the Explorer Serp swap. Again I agree with Pa.....it was the combination of all of those things including some of the stuff y'all mentioned above.

 

[73azbronco]

venting wheel wells or hood is a good way to cool a motor after it is off to prevent boiling fuel, that's about it, sorry.

Venting a hood could actually force air back into engine area by high pressure over hood at speed.

Maybe I missed what is the condition of the motor if all these other parts have been thrown at it? Overhauled, bored out, stock? Cam stock?

You say computer shutdown, so timing?

Ill say it again, a stock radiator, stock fan with a good shroud should cool a 351.

In my research I found electric fans are at best helper fans, and the best fan is a metal truck/explorer fan with full lock up heavy duty clutch which locks at 100%. Plastic fans only fit non HD clutches and those only lock up to 80%.

 

[bronconut73]

That Explorer fan whether metal or plastic pulls a crazy amount of cfm.
It will suck my t-shirt to the grill when engaged, lol.
I believe that my biggest hurdle all these years has been getting a big enough fan to move enough air through the radiator. The Explorer fan may actually be Overkill but it is apparently what I needed haha