Michael: (sharing this for benefit of other
listers who may be "Judson inclined"!)
Good move checking out the oil pressure
gauge; smart! (But, "stabilizer" still in oil?)
Mike, Sprites were never intended for
American running conditions, even as they
were back in '58, and were definitely not
designed to run in hot climates; there is
a reason for the "later" four-bladed metal
fan. And on later models, the multi-bladed
plastic "tropical" unit; and you have an
"improved" radiator, yet!
In my original Judson blower application
(stock 1275 Sprite, with later stock crossflow radiator) it became
obvious to
me in short order that:
1) a thermostadt "blanking sleeve" was
necessary at anything over 70F outside
ambient temperatures at normal "off boost" highway cruise speeds and
above
even with the Datsun 5 speed which, combined with a 3.7 diff. allowed
60-65
at 3,000rpm, and,
2) an aluminum radiator was definitely
the way to go (with mechanical "tropical"
fan or "strong" electric, "shrouded puller".)
I am assuming your "improved" downflow
would be at least as good as a stock crossflow. (other listers, on
this?)
Now, Dean Hedin's tests (his water injection project?) proved that even
in the "off boost" highway conditions
you describe (in even cooler outside air temps than you experienced) the
blower
case ran 160F due to "compression heating" of the incoming mixture;
imagine
this as an "additional" source of heat under the bonnet!
(especially without a cool air intake for the
induction system and no "vents" in the
stock bonnet/body.)
As an experiment (Arnold Herrmann already confirmed this but, what the
hell,
there is nothing like seeing it for yourself!)
may I respectfully suggest you run the car
under the same conditions without the
"compression" effect of the blower (remove the belt) and see what sort
of
running temps. you experience?
Then, being the obviously astute, bright
guy you are (in my experience) you will
make decisions, accordingly. (into which,
I have the feeling, my 45DCOE on it's
way to you, will probably figure!)
Running the blower is a challenge in warm weather; even more so in
really
hot weather, for sure. I have not made
the "body" modifications to my Bugeye
for no reason; I would much rather I could
have kept this part of it stock, for sure.
But, it gets to 90F, usually many summer
days in my locale here in the Northeast
(not so bad this particular summer) and
I use my car as a daily driver so, compromises had to be made unless I
chose not to run the blower. You may
choose differently and go back to normally
aspirated (albeit 1275+ type of "tune"); a
lot of "would be" Judson users do for exactly the reasons stated herein.
This
application can be a real PIA, for sure!
I know I've had my problems with it, not
unlike yours at all. Compromises are required and a lot of people don't
want
to spoil the original bodywork with vents
and the like (and I do not blame them one bit; different strokes for
different folks depending upon personal tastes and priorities - as it
should be!).
Bob S.
P.S. - Gentle reminder: Dean Hedin has yet to finish his water injection
project
which will be designed to handle "off boost" condtions as described,
along with
the more obvious "boost on" heat considerations.
P.P.S. - And, if you do go back and ever
decide to part with the "supercharged"
bonnet emblem--------well!
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