Hello from San Antonio

[daytongamez]

Here's my 85 K20 Suburban. I've had it about 9 years now.Has a rebuilt 350, rebuilt trans, front and back a/c. All thats really left is the paint job and the roof rack. My only real issue is the summertime heat and traffic. Im gonna install the RunCool.com XXL Louvers over the engine next month. But i saw a truck with a radiator fan mounted to his hood pulling the heat out. It looked awesome and I looked in the Texas DOT page and could find nothing saying I can't put a fan on my hood. Does anyone know if thats just for off roading only cause that would really help on the days when its over 100 degrees.

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[75gmck25]

Any holes in your hood are a two-way path, so air out means rain will also come it. I don't think its a good idea to let water run into your engine compartment.

My cooling system scheme is this: OEM 7 bladed steel fan, HD/extreme duty fan clutch, OEM full shroud, Stewart Stage one high flow water pump and high flow 195 degree thermostat, Champion aluminum 3 row radiator (Jegs). I don't get quite the heat you get in SA, but here in 90-95 degree heat with the A/C running I never see engine temps more than 200 degrees. I use a separate Stewart Warner mechanical temp gauge, so I think the temps are accurate.

All the other components worked well when installed, but cooling really seem to come together when I switched to the aluminum radiator. My old 3 row radiator looked clean inside, but let temps get up to about 210 in hot weather.

Also check your fan belt options to see if there is any difference between HD cooling and standard. My truck has the standard belt on the alternator, but also uses a longer belt for the PS pump, so that belt goes over the crankshaft, water pump/fan and PS pump. This means there are two belts driving the water pump and fan all the time. Its a little extra cooling insurance if you break one of the belts. In '75 parts books they show both a short PS pump belt (it does not drive the water pump) and a long PS belt option.

Bruce

 

[dvdswan]

I actually put in some louvres from a GTA in my hood of my toy. As @75gmck25 said, you will need to have good placement for louvres so what is below it doesn't get wet. I have created trays for under the hood to help any run off though.

 

[Charlie]

 

[Old77]

 

[Craig 85]

Welcome. Here's how GM did it with 454 trucks.

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[animal]

 

[K201979]

Welcome, good lookin burb!

 

[Shorty81]

Welcome from the Buckeye State.

 

[daytongamez]

Thanks for the welcomes, info and pics.

 

[75gmck25]

FYI - When looking for squarebody parts in San Antonio I usually start out with Roosevelt U-Pull-It, since its a fairly small yard and easy to walk in check quickly. Many years back I scored a complete truck bed for $150, and they used a forklift to pull my old one off and set the new one in place. Pick and Pull yard has the widest selection of parts, but squarebodies are way in the back of a very huge yard. I alway bring a cart or pay for one of their wheelbarrows if I'm carrying any tools or plan to pick up larger parts. It is a long walk back to the counter on a Saturday morning when the day is hot.

I always take a close look at the newer GM trucks and the 70's/80's GM full sized cars in the yard to see what I can find that might work on my '75 GMC. Electrical, cooling and drivetrain were similar across years and model lines, so there are many parts that cross over.

Bruce

 

[Preston]

Welcome to GMSB from Virginia

 

[1973c10]

Welcome