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Will the stock 81 cherokee radiator for a 360 sufficiently cool a 6.0 ls? We have high humidity and higher temps here in East Texas. Plenty of 100+ days. I do plan on using the stock mechanical fan.

If it's in good shape, it can probably keep a 6.0 cool.

Trouble is, the radiator hoses from a 6.0 don't line up with the factory radiator. In order to save yourself some aggravation, you might want to consider buying an aftermarket radiator from some place like www.bjsoffroad.com that has the inlets and outlets in the correct location for the LS engine.

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/Aluminum-Cros ... p_370.html It's not bargain priced but it bolts up in the factory space for the radiator and makes going with a GM engine a lot simpler. but the side benefit is that you know it will do a very good job of keeping the engine cool.

I recall one rule of thumb is to compare the horsepower output of the original engine and the swapped-in engine. The HP is roughly proportional to the amount of waste heat made by each engine, and the radiator is sized based on how much heat it needs to dissipate.

I'd look at it thusly: Same size motor, new motor presumably gets much better mileage and is therefore more efficient meaning less waste heat???

Of course some, maybe most, of the waste from the 360 goes out the exhaust rather than into the cooling system.

As we say in the rocket business: prolly be alright.

I would also guess that the new motor, being insanely more efficient, will likely generate less heat per unit. Will it work for sure? No idea. Will it probably work? Yah.


aa

I have a taurus electrical fan I guess I could setup as a pusher to aid the mechanical fan as a just in case.

I'll go ahead and use the stocker, since no one has said I'll kill a bus load of nuns, and just keep a close eye on temps and see what happens.

I would avoid the pusher fan until you know you have problems. You're honestly more likely to impede airflow by adding the extra fan than help anything.


aa

Would recommend looking at several threads of comparable swaps to see how others did it. This would help you avoid additional $$.
I am running the Taurus fan on a stock amc360 and find it hard to believe you would have enough room behind the grill to mount it as a pusher. As a puller, it’s intended design, mounting it was already severe PITA but that is due to the limited space between a 360/accessory drive and the radiator.

I swapped a 350 vortec into my 81 and kept the radiator from the straight 6.

Yes, it will keep the engine cool. I run it right around 200 deg and never have an issue. Has a clutch fan installed but could use electric fans instead.

The hoses though are a pain in the... The inlet and outlet are on the opposite sides. I cut and seamed my upper and lower hoses together to make it fit and regret it. I always have some little leak somewhere.

One of these days i'll get around to swapping in either the right radiator or universal hoses.