will a 454 radiator work on a 305

[Russ130]

SO after 30 yrs of wrenching away I got it all wrong?

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.

My opinion is throw in the radiator make sure you use a thermostat otherwise it will overheat. Come winter if it doesn't get hot enough for you block off part of the grill so it can run hotter like the big trucks do. Two things you can never have too much of, cooling and oil

[Canadian 4X4]

You can definitely have too much oil, but that is a whole other discussion.

[1984k30]

You could put the radiator in and block off a portion of the front of the rad to limit to amount of air going through it.  Pretty much like the do on larger trucks in the winter.  You may have to play around with how much you cover to get the temp where you want it.  I don't see why you could not do this.  It seems like a simple solution.

[78 Chevyrado]

The thermostat controls the temp, not the radiator.  If you put a radiator from a big OTR diesel on a gas 4 banger, it will overheat with the coolant flow blocked by the thermostat.  if it overcools or overheats, you have a crappy t-stat or too much of a bypass somewhere.


If it matters all small blocks and big blocks use the same PN# 195 degree thermostat.

[87454westernhauler]

the 454 radiator is all i have right now, and the 305 radiator it has in it has a hole in it and it is always running hot. not woried about emissions in it because i live in rural iowa!!! NO LAWS ABOUT EMISSIONS HEER!!!!!

also to add too some ones coments, i also have an 87 454 tbi dually that i drive daily, and it always runs at 175-185 tops. i have all of the brackets to so it will work i think

[1984k30]

I was thinking about this and thought about my boat.   It has a unlimited amount of coolant it uses.  The t stat must keep engine temp in range and then open to let more river water in to cool it then closes again.  I don't see why a larger supply of coolant in this case a larger radiator could not be regulated for a truck engine too?  Wouldn't it be the same

[87454westernhauler]

i think it will be ok thanks guys

[fitz]

I was thinking about this and thought about my boat.   It has a unlimited amount of coolant it uses. 

For the most parts boats do not have trannys in them so they tend to run at higher RPM than a car/truck, which in turn creates more heat.

I think we call all sleep good at night knowing that the world will not come to an end if WesternHauler runs a big block radiator on his small block, it just may not be the ideal set up in my own opinion.

[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.

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.

Well I started to read this reply to my post, and didn't get past the first sentence, then in my open mindedness I deceided to read on, because it occured to me that this guy is a know-it-all, and the dumber among us might just learn something from his arrogant insolence.

However, after reading his post it became clear to me that grinder1989 is not in a position to deceide what is dumb, and what is brilliant. Yup, should have stayed with my gut feeling, and ignored the rest of this clown's post.

[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.

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.

topp-

I understand the point you are trying to make. An engine needs to be warm to help burn off moisture in order to keep the crankcase clean, and promote proper combustion, etc.

However, I have never had overcooling as a problem. I tow heavy in some pretty hot 90~100F weather, and in doing so I have seen the need to upgrade to larger radiators for increased cooling capacity. Obviously the larger radiator is in place during our cold winters where 0F is not uncommon on a January night. The ability to warm up the engine in those cold temps has never been hindered by the fact that I have a larger radiator. During those cold temps, it is also not uncommon to leave my truck running at idle for extended periods to keep it warm while doing some running around in town.

If the wax pellet type thermostat that our trucks use is operating properly, when an engine becomes cooled down, the thermostat will close enough to restrict coolant flow in order to warm the engine back to it's operating temperature just as it does when the engine is on it start/warm-up cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermostat#Wax_pellet

Pay special attention to paragraph 3 in the above link, and the two footnotes that follow, and you can see why I say any oversized radiator with a properly working thermostat will suit the O.P.'s needs just fine.

While the thermostat is closed, there is no flow of coolant in the loop allowing the combustion chambers to warm up rapidly. The thermostat stays closed until the coolant temperature reaches the nominal thermostat opening temperature. The thermostat then progressively opens as the coolant temperature increases to the optimum operating temperature, increasing the coolant flow to the radiator. Once the optimum operating temperature is reached, the thermostat progressively increases or decreases its opening in response to temperature changes, dynamically balancing the coolant recirculation flow and coolant flow to the radiator to maintain the engine temperature in the optimum range as engine heat output, vehicle speed, and outside ambient temperature change. Under normal operating conditions the thermostat is open to about half of its stroke travel, so that it can open further or reduce its opening to react to changes in operating conditions. A correctly designed thermostat will never be fully open or fully closed while the engine is operating normally, or overheating or overcooling would occur. For instance,

-If more cooling is required, e.g., in response to an increase in engine heat output which causes the coolant temperature to rise, the thermostat will increase its opening to allow more coolant to flow through the radiator and increase engine cooling. If the thermostat were already fully open, then it would not be able to increase the flow of coolant to the radiator, hence there would be no more cooling capacity available, and the increase in heat output by the engine would result in overheating.

-If less cooling is required, e.g., in response to decrease in ambient temperature which causes the coolant temperature to fall, the thermostat will decrease its opening to restrict the coolant flow through the radiator and reduce engine cooling. If the thermostat were already fully closed, then it would not be able to reduce cooling in response to the fall in coolant temperature, and the engine temperature would fall below the optimum operating range.

[topp]

I am fully aware how a thermostat works.

Yet you still fail to address the fact that even when your vehicle is "fully warmed up" after idling, what happens when you start driving...
Col air goes through radiator. Cools the coolant...Which goes into the engine...and cold shocks it....until it goes back into the radiator. 

I am betting, if your thermostat is a 190, at best, your coolant is 170-180 on an average day, with no towing, and your thermostat is going nuts opening and closing. I am also betting your combustion chambers are not reaching full operating temperature, causing higher than normal emissions, increased build up of carbon in the heads, and unnecessary wear and tear on the motor as the internal components are getting cold shock from the cold coolant flowing into the engine when you are at highway speeds...

The point is, yes it will work, but at what cost?  New motor sooner because the engine never reaches optimum temperature?

Yes you can shower in cold water, but a warm shower is much more comfortable.
To each their own.  I know what works for me.....
I change my oil at every 3000 miles or 3 months...even though some people can do it every 5000.....
 

[Engineer]

I have never failed an emissions inspection, and have never had to pull a platinum tipped spark plug before the end of it's 100,000mi life span due to fouling of any type.

I guess I am just "dumb lucky". 

[Grim 82]

I think we can all sleep good at night knowing that the world will not come to an end if WesternHauler runs a big block radiator on his small block

^^This

[Russ130]

What is wrong with you? Seriously now! First off the amount of coolant in a radiator is very small compared to what is in an engine block even if it is over sized. Second no harm is going to come from cold shocking it as you call it. We do this all the time when we flush the radiator with cold tap water. Third running your engine cooler than normal is only going to prolong the life of the motor and increase power as well. Everybody here knows these things they are common knowledge, everyone except you. Get off your soap box take the time to read all the posts and learn something. You are obviously a newbie to motoring your posts show this more than you think. Besides where are you getting all this crap from? All the things you post seem like they are cut and pasted from some idiots theory on how a motor needs to be just so. No doubt some idiot that rarely if ever gets their hands greasy. You don't gain experience by reading you gain it by putting the time in under the hood getting your hands dirty. No one vehicle is going to teach you everything either it is going to take thousands of cars and even then you won't know everything. I do this stuff for a living, I do it on my truck as a hobbie as do a lot of others on here. I come here to learn new things or see things a different way which is always helpful. So enough with cold shocking a motor already, do you know how stupid that sounds?

I am fully aware how a thermostat works.

Yet you still fail to address the fact that even when your vehicle is "fully warmed up" after idling, what happens when you start driving...
Col air goes through radiator. Cools the coolant...Which goes into the engine...and cold shocks it....until it goes back into the radiator. 

I am betting, if your thermostat is a 190, at best, your coolant is 170-180 on an average day, with no towing, and your thermostat is going nuts opening and closing. I am also betting your combustion chambers are not reaching full operating temperature, causing higher than normal emissions, increased build up of carbon in the heads, and unnecessary wear and tear on the motor as the internal components are getting cold shock from the cold coolant flowing into the engine when you are at highway speeds...

The point is, yes it will work, but at what cost?  New motor sooner because the engine never reaches optimum temperature?

Yes you can shower in cold water, but a warm shower is much more comfortable.
To each their own.  I know what works for me.....
I change my oil at every 3000 miles or 3 months...even though some people can do it every 5000.....
 

[topp]

What is wrong with you? Seriously now! First off the amount of coolant in a radiator is very small compared to what is in an engine block even if it is over sized. Second no harm is going to come from cold shocking it as you call it. We do this all the time when we flush the radiator with cold tap water. Third running your engine cooler than normal is only going to prolong the life of the motor and increase power as well. Everybody here knows these things they are common knowledge, everyone except you. Get off your soap box take the time to read all the posts and learn something. You are obviously a newbie to motoring your posts show this more than you think. Besides where are you getting all this crap from? All the things you post seem like they are cut and pasted from some idiots theory on how a motor needs to be just so. No doubt some idiot that rarely if ever gets their hands greasy. You don't gain experience by reading you gain it by putting the time in under the hood getting your hands dirty. No one vehicle is going to teach you everything either it is going to take thousands of cars and even then you won't know everything. I do this stuff for a living, I do it on my truck as a hobbie as do a lot of others on here. I come here to learn new things or see things a different way which is always helpful. So enough with cold shocking a motor already, do you know how stupid that sounds?

1st....Your attitude is way out of line.
2nd...Boat engines are entirely different birds as has been pointed out to you.
3rd.. I cited all my information, and from over 30 years working on chevy engines. If you are so knowledgeable, why do todays cars run at 220-225 and not 100?
4th, your OPINION is 1 of 2 in this thread that think colder is better, out of the REST that the consensus is that his motor will run too cool including the FACT that that radiator was not OFFERED with the 305 for a reason.
5th-Go drop ambient temp water in your hot engine and see what happens.
6th- Do you realize how you have used derogatory words toward someone you don't know?
7th- CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE
8th- THE CONSENSUS IS TO COLD IS BAD-  LEARN THAT NEW THING YET???
9th- GET OFF YOUR SOAP BOX.  YMMV....Mr 249 posts is the God of all knowledge, except for the many other opinions, data, statistics and other members experience and knowledge....But you call me stupid....