1970 esprit still overheating
 

My friend ordered a new radiator 2 electric fans from ebay . It's a 3 row radiator a 160 thermostat and still running hot he has a stock 350 with a 4 barrel carb. Stock water pump too. I suggested the Jim bultet hiflow pump. Any more advise, please it has been flushed too and fan directly connected to the ignition so the turn on when engine turns on.
He has a nice 1970 esprit and is new to Pontiacs and needs our help. The 350 original engine has 11 heads and rebuilt to 389 too. I will post pics of his radiator too

When does it get hot? While cruising? While stopped in traffic?

I would check the basics: Radiator not clogged up with debris, properly working clutch fan, and most important…check the tuneup and make sure your vacuum advance is working correctly.

I would start with that before ordering a bunch of parts…

Get a new heavy duty clutch fan and then verify what temperature it activates at. Most clutch fans sold in the past 20 years are universally preset to activate at 200+ degrees which doesnt work for our old cars. I bought a new one, unhooked the end of the spring and JB-welded it at a tighter position so it activated much earlier. The result was a running temp that went from 200 degrees to 170.

Here is what I did: 2797 Hayden clutch fan and the following modifcation in post #415

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...69#post5726469

New radiator electric fan
 

Hear are pictures of his electric fan set up and it looks like air flow is restricted. Am I right? I never used modern technology radiator on my cars

can you verify that the plates were put behind the water pump?
How about the tubes which direct the flowof coolant?

Has the thermostat been verified as working?

Heating uo
 

It's getting hot in town and gets to 210 with stock it was only 190. Thermostat is a 160 . Is the stock radiator a 3 or 4 row on an auto Base 350 model? I thought autos where 4 row and sticks 3 row.

Make sure you have read the water pump thread:

Water Pump fix


:)

ditch the electric fans, they wont cool any better than the stock clutch fan set up & looking at the pics they have their own metal shroud behind the factory shroud... major restriction. the new aluminum rad should be more than enough for a stock 350/389. best to remove them & get a good 7 blade factory fan with new clutch using original shroud.

i run a small budget 3 row alum rad in a 500+hp 467 stroker in a 72 firebird with a 180 t-stat & a worn out factory clutch fan that never fully engages when hot, temp will rarely go above 190 on hot summer days in any driving condition or drag racing.

Ditch the electric crap. Yeah I said crap, the new set up he ordered is WORSE than what he has.
Use a stock set up and clutch fan adj as NJSteve said.
A clean "stock" radiator and a flush of the block will be a huge help.
If it ever had dexcool it NEEDS a flush.
Also make sure its not running lean.

stock for a 350 would have been a 3 row, at least my 350 auto was for 72.

can you clarify a few things? you said he has a stock 350, but then said "rebuilt to a 389??" you said the engine was flushed, how? if its the stock water pump its safe to assume it has the rear plate, tubes. new t-stat should be working ok. if you replace the water pump be sure to clearance the gap between impeller & plate, most guys say it needs to be done but others say they never do it on higher power engines with no problems but its a good idea to do it.

best to get rid of those electric fans & shroud & go to a stock fan with clutch. electric fans can work if they are good brands with high CFM airflow, those no name ebay fans are most likely junk.

I went through this same exact thing, with the same setup. I solved it by keeping the aluminum radiator and ditching the electric fans/shroud. The shroud just covers too much of the radiator surface area, and blocks airflow. In essence the "functional" area of the radiator has been reduced to the area of those two small fans. I took the advice above, and ditched the electrics in favor of a clutch fan. Never gets above 190 (tstat temp) around town.

I second this. :)

THANKS FOR INFO