Temperature

[WVUFELLA]

I was wondering about where your cars run at in regard to temp.... mine seems to run in the middle to upper half...it use to be fine when under 50 mph and would climb higher on the interstate... at the nats i was told by an indivual that if it is heating up on the interstate that i had to much timing.... So i dropped the timing from 14 back to 12 .. it seems to start easier and the pinging went away... but does the picture seem like the temp is high or is this the nature of a 440 with some mods??? i have a two core radiator...and have thinking about abotu gettin one of those champiion three core radiators.... In my brothers 440 truck his temp gauge stays at the bottom of the gauge... also when your cars are hot does the starter stuggle to turn them over?> ideas are always appreciated.....

[Jeffs 70 RT]

Hello! Those stock gauges aren't very accurate to begin with. So, you really need a good aftermarket to really know for sure. But, looking at your markings, it really isn't too hot I'd say. I have a large Mark7 rad and it never gets over 200 even in crawling traffic. Cruising at the Nat's this year it never got over 195. Even 210-220 deg isn't hot in my opinion.  Too much timing will make it hard to start also.  Take care!  Jeff

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Nikki is a little lower than that with the stock 383 2 core rad. Granted HEMI not 440.  I did ad a pusher fan that I can run on really hot days or high traffic/slow moving situations. I wouldn't think your running hot  if your gauge is accurate...

[Chryco Psycho]

mine runs in the lower 1/3 of the middle section , if it heats up on the highway the fan may be blocking air flow through the rad do you have a clutch fan ? I would recommend one . the rad could also just be too small to keep it cool .

[todd383]

Just use the stock radiator and have a 4 row core installed, it will never over heat, my 383 has 496 hp, 26" rad, with a 4 row core, and it could sit in traffic all day at 195.  in the hot summer!!  My friend also, with a built 470" 568 hp, has a 22" rad. and a 4 row also,  runs at 200 degrees, but no higher, we both have a 7 blade fan with  a fan clutch, and shroud, hope this helps.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Do you have a 22" or 26" radiator?

This kind of overheating is usually due to an air flow problem.

To digress, I did have a Pontiac with the same problem. It would only overheat at speed. It turned out the radiator was full of crud(rust). And no... I wasn't the original owner.   

[ChallengerHK]

Two row seems small for highway driving.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Actually 2 is just fine on the hwy. Heavy city traffic is usually the issue for NIKKI 

[dodge freak 2]

Actually 2 is just fine on the hwy. Heavy city traffic is usually the issue for NIKKI 

Depends how how much power the engine is cranking out. Driving 80 mph takes much more power then going 60 mph and with a few WOT blast the engine needs a good clean radiator. I run a two core since it was the only type with a lifetime warranty at my local auto shop. I'm on the 3rd rad now in 17 years, lol. Does just fine but I use a electric fan in front and a mechanical in back. Airflow is a biggie but if the rad is clog then it needs a re core / new rad.

I did have an old rad once 25 years ago, in stop and go traffic it was fine, same with 55 mph but 70 mph and above it overheated after 30 to 90 mins. Had to pull off and spray the rad down with a hose at a gas station. Heck today you be lucky to find a water spout at a gas station let alone a hose hook up to it     

[msbaugh]

Get a heat gun from a home depot or an auto store and see where it's at.  Then you can be sure that it's reading correctly.  I wouldn't depend on any of these old gauges unless you're positive they're working properly

[PlumCraZRT]

Get a heat gun from a home depot or an auto store and see where it's at.  Then you can be sure that it's reading correctly.  I wouldn't depend on any of these old gauges unless you're positive they're working properly

I wouldn't depend on a heat gun unless it's be calibrated to the emissivity of the surface your reading.