Coolant & Radiator Cap

The best coolant, in terms of heat transfer ability, is water!  Without going into all the technical reasons, the following heat capacity and conductivity values indicate the magnitude of the differences:

* That's correct, pure Antifreeze moves the freezing temperature higher!  The minimum freezing temperature is achieved with a 60% antifreeze in water solution.

Therefore why use anything but water?  Several reasons.  First the use of antifreeze prevents freezing!  However 33% antifreeze will allow the engine to get to 0 degrees F, low enough for us in the South.  As noted above, even a 50/50 mix only raises the boiling point 11 degrees!  But in places in the engine we can easily get higher than that.  That is why we use a pressure cap!  A 15 psi cap is typical and the Billet Specialties 15 psi cap (pictured) is what is being used on the '34.  At 15 psi pressure   the boiling point of water will rise to 250 deg!  Using 33% antifreeze will raise the boiling point to about 260 deg F.  That should be sufficient for most street rod applications.

Thermostat

After trying a few types, a 180 deg Robershaw Hi Flow works fine.  It takes longer to warm up than the standard 185 but is somewhat better on very hot days when idling.

Additives

Both Redline "Water Wetter" and "40 Below" additives have been used.  Saw no benefit to the more expensive "40 Below" over "Water Wetter."

Since a 33% antifreeze mixture is used, the reduced corrosion properties of "Water Wetter" are worth the fairly low cost.  Even though some published information indicates it doesn't offer and advantage (re. the Griffin Web Site), under conditions where the temperature raises creating possible localized boiling, it may be a benefit.  Have not found either additive significantly reduced the temperature rise on hot days while idling.  The Red Line "Water Wetter" information on their web site is also compelling! 

Used the new Prestone 5 yr/100,000 mile universal product since it has more corrosion inhibitors and "sounds" like it could be better for the cast iron block, aluminum heads and rad.   Added some "Water Wetter" as well.

This Site:

We're "hitchhiking" on our commercial web site to bring you this information on 1934 Street Rod   If you or a friend have a MIG Welder (also called a Wire Welder, GMAW, etc) visit our site on How To Save Shielding Gas Waste. You can reduce the number of times and the effort required to have your shielding gas cylinder filled in half!  Just click HERE.  You can return to this site by using the  Links at the bottom of the "CAR BUFFS" page.

$ave money and get better weld starts!

If you make a lot of short welds and weld tacks you can probably reduce your gas usage by 50% or more.  Also fewer trips to have the cylinder filled. 

Note: Thanks to those "Car Crazy" folks who have purchased the Gas Saver System and commented on the improved starts and reduced gas usage they have achieved.  Many purchased our 6 foot prefitted GSS, Part Number WAT FB6 or you may want our  "Newly Added" 3 foot prefittted GSS, Part Number FB3,

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Engineering a 1934 Pro Street Street Rod

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