Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

[Valeria H.]

It was a beautiful weekend in Charlotte for the Spring car show. I made it through the first day without a problem if you don't count RUNNING OUT OF GAS on my way to the show the first day. The infamous fuel gauge was reading over 1/4 of a tank. Liar! Lucky for me this was not nearly my first outing with the car and I knew to leave early just in case... Hopefully next time I will remember to fill the gas tank before I leave.

It was a great show. I won Best of Show for my club and was entered into the winner's circle judging for the Auto Show's Best of Show. No, I did not win but it was fun.

There was a tremendous line up to leave Lowes Motor Speedway and to get on the interstate. I almost made it to I-85 south when my husband called and told me I needed to come back to the speedway as he was having a senior moment. Don't ask. He will be embarassed if I tell.
My car starting getting hot (temp gauge doesn't work either) with white steam rising up from the hood and a bad smell.

I shut the car off got my fire extinguisher out of the trunk and popped the hood. It was the engine overheating. I had airconditioning installed just last week. I used it briefly while waiting in line but the car shut off on me so I turned it off thinking that cars so shut off when they get hot but at this point it showed no sign of overheating.

Beyond needing a more powerful radiator does anyone have any suggestions for a cause and fix?

My car went back to the shop on an auto wheelchair. But she looked good!!!

I know this was a long thread. Sorry
Valeria

[Jean C.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Valeria,
If it were my car I would first and foremost have a working temp gauge and a fuel guage that works (what, you didn't pass an airport?) then find a solution for the supposedly a/c related overheating problem.

Just my 2 cents, but because a/c was not an option on your car, one can presume the stock radiator does not have enough cooling capacity to handle the load added by an after market a/c system as you have noted.

As for a fix for overheating that presumably began with the a/c install...a larger radiator, a more efficient fan, installation of electric fan(s), a properly functioning fan clutch (if your car has one), don't use a/c when sitting in stopped traffic, etc, etc come to mind.

C1 owners with a/c may have a solution. Hope you get it sorted out.
Best regards,

[Howard M.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Hi: A Griffin or DeWitt direct fit aluminum radiator will go a long way toward a cooler running car.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Valeria,
I put Vintage Air in my old 62 and to keep it from overheating I did the following:
Installed a BE-COOL aluminum radiator.
Mounted 2 electric fans in front of the radiator with separate manual switches.
Mounted the Condenser in front of the electric fans.
Never used the AC if I was going under 40 MPH.
The car never overheated.
Bruce B

[Jean C.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

I knew there had to be a fix e suggested by someone who had been there, done that.
Best regards

[Howard M.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Valeria:
Also make sure the radiator side and bottom seals are in place as well as the front hood air dam (on 59 & 60's) so that the inlet air flow is directed into the radiator and now around the outside.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Thanks for your suggestions. Also I have learned that the radiator cap was only 7 lbs instead of the 12 lbs cap I really need. I hope this helps my baby. Forgot to mention that my husband insisted on opening the radiator cap to release it after I begged him not to do it. At least no one was burned and scarred for life.

The top was down and mostly everything was soaked. To my credit I did not kill him on the spot, not even a swear word came from my mouth. However when the tow truck operator came to flat bed the car, without question, he knew who to come to for direction and who wanted desperately to stay out of any decision making.

He is still alive and we are still married.
Valeria

[Chuck G.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Valerie, FWIW...

I have Vintage Air on my 56 Chevy (not Corvette).

The car runs cool all the time with the AC "OFF". Runs cool with the AC "ON" when I'm driving it, BUT.......................

I can watch the temp gauge rise when I have the AC "ON" and the car is sitting idling, etc.

I can literally watch the gauge go from 170* to 220* within less than 5 minutes, IF I'm idling, etc. It's never boiled over, however.

My solution? I just turn the AC "OFF" when I'm in that situation. I have no issues with my cooling system. As a matter of fact, I wish my car would run a bit hotter under normal circumstances. That being said, that AC unit REALLY puts a load on the system at idle.

Chuck

[Jack H.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

I agree with the advice of others (you're taxing a factory stock radiator with the A/C addition, proper operation of fan clutch if so equipped, seals around radiator, proper rad cap, Etc.)...

Another piece of information is cockpit etiquete... When you see the temp gauge rising at idle (need to get yours fixed), REV the engine a bit (say 200-300 RPM). That runs counter intuitive, but you'll wind up pulling more air through the radiator and working the cooling system more aggressively.

That was a design 'feature' of Shark cars (temp switch mounted in the cylinder head). When temperature elevation from 'normal' was detected, the emissions system kicked in to feed the distributor vacuum which boosted curb idle and raised engine idle RPM. It can work, mon!

[Valeria H.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Thanks to all who responded. A special thanks to Charlie regarding the "airport" comment. I appreciate the humor. Since you brought up the subject just thought I would ask if high octane fuel really makes the engine run hotter?

I only had the air on for less than 5 minutes so I'm not sure if that is what caused the engine to overheat. The radiator did not boil over by itself.
It was fine until my husband took the cap off. What a mess that was. And of course I had the soft top down!

I'll keep the "reving up the engine" in mind for the next time. Interesting!!

Thanks again,
Valeria

[Jack H.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

It only took me one parade to learn that these cars run hot even without a/c. I was in the middle of the thing and had no where to go. Just turned the heater on high and revved the engine until we got to the end. Last parade I ever did.

[Jim T.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

It was a beautiful weekend in Charlotte for the Spring car show. I made it through the first day without a problem if you don't count RUNNING OUT OF GAS on my way to the show the first day. The infamous fuel gauge was reading over 1/4 of a tank. Liar! Lucky for me this was not nearly my first outing with the car and I knew to leave early just in case... Hopefully next time I will remember to fill the gas tank before I leave.

It was a great show. I won Best of Show for my club and was entered into the winner's circle judging for the Auto Show's Best of Show. No, I did not win but it was fun.

There was a tremendous line up to leave Lowes Motor Speedway and to get on the interstate. I almost made it to I-85 south when my husband called and told me I needed to come back to the speedway as he was having a senior moment. Don't ask. He will be embarassed if I tell.
My car starting getting hot (temp gauge doesn't work either) with white steam rising up from the hood and a bad smell.

I shut the car off got my fire extinguisher out of the trunk and popped the hood. It was the engine overheating. I had airconditioning installed just last week. I used it briefly while waiting in line but the car shut off on me so I turned it off thinking that cars so shut off when they get hot but at this point it showed no sign of overheating.

Beyond needing a more powerful radiator does anyone have any suggestions for a cause and fix?

My car went back to the shop on an auto wheelchair. But she looked good!!!

I know this was a long thread. Sorry
Valeria

Valeria does your car have a full time functional vacuum advance equipped distributor?

[Michael W.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Since you brought up the subject just thought I would ask if high octane fuel really makes the engine run hotter?

Absolutely not, that's just one of those other myths that won't go away.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Overheating while waiting in long line of cars to exit Spring Auto Show

Valeria does your car have a full time functional vacuum advance equipped distributor?

Jim, it looks to me to have the original distributor so I doubt that it does. How would that make a difference?

Valeria