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FE Technical Forum / Re: Cooling system that works in traffic
« on: February 13, 2026, 08:04:10 PM »19X31 aluminum crossflow 2 core radiator (at least 1" core width), two SPAL electric fans, both pullers or one pusher and one puller, depending on fitment issues, 160 degree thermostat with four 1/8" holes around the periphery, and a CVR 55 gpm water pump. Cools my big SOHC in the race car on Drag Week, never see over 180 unless I'm leaking coolant without knowing it.
First of all, no car is too nice to cut.
The motor in my Comet is a D4TE bored .080 and hard blocked to the water pump holes. It has an Eagle 3.980 crank and zero deck flat top pistons. 11.5:1 compression. I live in the high desert above Los Angeles and summertime temps are around 100* sometimes more.
My cooling set-up mimics Jays pretty well, Ebay 19x31 aluminum radiator, Spal dual 11"paddle fans (very noisy but pull a ton of air) 185* & 195* fan sensors, 160* engine thermostat with 2 1/8" bleed holes drilled. The fan that runs on the 195* sensor rarely comes on.
I have a PRW aluminum mechanical water pump and a Volvo 740 Turbo water pump pulley that's 4 3/4" in diameter. 7" crank pulley.
The car does have an engine oil cooler 11"x13" with it's own fan. I was told that a filled block on the street needed one. Installed a oil temp sender in the sump of the oil pan. Highest oil temp I've seen is 210*.
I beat the silly motor like a red haired step child and drive it to car events that are 100+ mile round trips. Run California cat piss 91 octane gasolene,
This thing runs cool and doesn't do anything weird. It amazes me that a motor I put together with parts I had on my junk pile works well. I was sure that it would be a cronic heater.
