will a 454 radiator work on a 305

[87454westernhauler]

i have a good 454 radiator that i want to put on my 305 bacause it doesn't hold much, t5he front clip is off of a 454 truck so no problem with it fiting just wandering if the engine will be ok with a bigger radiator??

[beastie_3]

It will fit.

[87454westernhauler]

will it be to much cooling capasity on the engine or will it be ok. i know it will fit ok just concerned about that?

[zieg85]

It will work fine however your radiator shroud probably will not fit, at least it won't between my 85 with the 454 and my 86 with a 350

[beastie_3]

You need to have the brackets.

[fitz]

It will fit with the proper brackets/shroud but keep in mind it may take a long time for the heater to warm up in the winter. Bigger is not always better. Engines are designed to run in a specific heat range, you may find that the big 4 core radiator has your 305 running on the cool side of that range.

[Engineer]

Since they are cheap as dirt, change your thermostat when you change the radiator.

As far as over cooling, that is impossible. If the thermostat is doing it's job, it will restrict coolant flow enough to keep the engine in it's proper operating temperature range no matter how large your radiator is.

If your engine gets too cool, the thermostat will simply close up enough to allow the engine to warm back up.

[84c20]

How much bigger is a big block radiator? Extra cooling capacity is always nice.

[fitz]

So I take it you guys did more research than the Engineers at GM who decided not to offer a 4 core radiator on a 305?

[topp]

Since they are cheap as dirt, change your thermostat when you change the radiator.

As far as over cooling, that is impossible. If the thermostat is doing it's job, it will restrict coolant flow enough to keep the engine in it's proper operating temperature range no matter how large your radiator is.

If your engine gets too cool, the thermostat will simply close up enough to allow the engine to warm back up.

Actually it is possible....
Too much coolant and the thermostat will never stay open, and will cause the engine temp to drop drastically when it does open as the cold coolant flows into the engine.
This will kill performance, and increase emissions drastically.

[84c20]

in one of my cars i feel like a gained power by running cool with no thermostat. I wasnt concerned about heat in that car though since it was all removed and only driven on warm days or on the track.

[topp]

"The engine in your car runs best at a fairly high temperature. When the engine is cold, components wear out faster, and the engine is less efficient and emits more pollution. So another important job of the cooling system is to allow the engine to heat up as quickly as possible, and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature"

"The engine runs best when its coolant is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). At this temperature:

•The combustion chamber is hot enough to completely vaporize the fuel, providing better combustion and reducing emissions.
•The oil used to lubricate the engine has a lower viscosity (it is thinner), so the engine parts move more freely and the engine wastes less power moving its own components around.
•Metal parts wear less. "

"­­The thermostat's main job is to allow the engine to heat up quickly, and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature. It does this by regulating the amount of water that goes through the radiator."

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system.htm


And here is some more :
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&q=What+happens+if+I+drive+without+a+thermostat&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[grinder1989]

Since they are cheap as dirt, change your thermostat when you change the radiator.

As far as over cooling, that is impossible. If the thermostat is doing it's job, it will restrict coolant flow enough to keep the engine in it's proper operating temperature range no matter how large your radiator is.

If your engine gets too cool, the thermostat will simply close up enough to allow the engine to warm back up.

That was by far the dumbest thing I've read.  I switched from a copper radiator to an aluminum radiator in my race truck and even hot lapping at the track I never went above 180, stayed around 160.  Copper, I would have been at least at 210.  That's a nearly stock 350 with antifreeze in it.  It is very possible to over cool an engine. 

I think the 454 would be too much for a 305.  Save your money for something more important.

[royo]

Jeebuss  You guys?   If the big radiator is all you have it will work . If you have plenty of money buy you a new one ?  Take into account what you are going to be doing with the truck . towing, offroading does it have ac.    You can do it   lol

[topp]

Jeebuss  You guys?   If the big radiator is all you have it will work . If you have plenty of money buy you a new one ?  Take into account what you are going to be doing with the truck . towing, offroading does it have ac.    You can do it   lol

And take into account for most of those activities it will need to be registered and prolly emissions...
It will FAIL drastically with a Radiator that never allows the engine to fully warm up.

Offroad it will run like crap, not making the power it should make since the fuel can't atomize properly.
Towing will prolly get the temp EVENTUALLY up to operating temperature....


For comparison. I have an 87 TBI 350 with the stock radiator.  Engine running, in park, and the temp never hits 200, and thats with a 195 thermostat (Stock). Driving, it never hits 200.
If I had more coolant, it would never get near operating temperature, even at speed.