Sam,

I thought about the same thing for years......especially with my long commutes. In the winter the block does not get very warm especially at speed on the freeway and the mileage usually drops in winter. I like you got rid of the stock fan to keep the cold air from blowing over the manifold keeping it overly cool. I used to tun a 16" electric fan which helped, but it still cooled too much even with a 205 degree switch in the radiator tank, 195 engine stat. I think that by keeping the slant warm during the winter months goes a long ways to help making better mileage.

I am now running too 9" fans at the top of the radiator. A aluminum heat diverter to keep the manifold warmer and carb cooler, and a air dam/diverter below the radiator to force air up into the radiator from under the bumper.

With these changes the engine warms up very fast, the intake manifold stays warmer and the mileage stays constant year round.......no more dropping down to 21 mpg in the winter.

The two 9" fans rarely come on unless I am stuck in traffic.........and usually during heat soak about 10 minutes after I shut off the car.

By keeping the intake warmer the engine maintains it's spunky peppy feel and driveability like it has during the summer months.

Click on the red link below my name to view the pictures.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

OK, sorry to read too much into your statements, Sam. You are being curious, which is great.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

It worries me that you think I worry. I think I am getting "curiouser and curiouser". Now it worries me that spell-check didn't think curiouser was a misspelled word

Sam

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Years ago, a roommate had a /6 that would run on the hwy in the summer with temp gauge pegged; his mechanic replaced radiator, hoses, thermostat, pump, etc. and never figured out why - but the /6 never seemed worse for it. The rest of the time it read normal.

I've heard that there were other /6 that would mysteriously do that, but never heard of a specific cause.

I also make sure the thermostat has a small bleed hole, just to make it easier to fill the system.

Was the water jacket (block and head) ever boiled out?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.