Toooo HOT

[Scott S.]

Hi Guys, First I whant to Thank every one how gave me pointers with my HEAD AKES!!!!. Now I have a new one. I had the motor rebuild runs GRATE then my wheel bearing lockup Then the trailing arms were bad and the frame were they bolt into was gone now it has a new frame under it, along with every rubber,brake line,gas line,ball joint,strut rod,nut and bolt from front to back. Now the new problem is it's over heating. New themestat, new water pump,prim it,new top hose,and water is flowing, new clutch fan. Any sagestions? thanks scott

[Edward J.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Scott, sounds like if you didn't have bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.

From you post you talked about about almost everything except the radiator. How old is it? blockage is a common problem with older radiators and of course making sure that all the sealing strips are in place around the radiator. another area to look at is making sure there is not blockage in the radiator cooling fins, debris sometimes sticks to the fins and limits air flow. and if you have a A/C car check between the condensor and radiator for leaves , or debris there.

[Scott S.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Hi, ED, Ya I dident look in rad,I tryed to check it with a temp laser,It seamed to have the same temp up and down the rad. I gess my next step is to take the rad out. What about takeing the thermosat out?.

[Edward J.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Scott,removing the themostat is not a good idea, do you have a 180 degree themostat in car now? what is the temp. with the gun at the intake,( at the cross over area), take the upper and lower necks on tanks of radiator, is your car a A/C car w/ copper brass radiator or aluimnum?

[Scott S.]

Re: Toooo HOT

It has no AC, the temp at the intake went to 225-235,the temp at top rad was about the same and the bottom 215-225. befor I shut it off. It did clime to about 240, when Ishut it off it blow antifreeze out. It looks tobe a copper rad.I checked the fins they are cleane.

[Rob M.]

Re: Toooo HOT

did you check all the seals being present? Is the fan close enough to the fan shroud, are you using the right fan diameter? Is the fan clutch working as intended?

regards,
Rob.

[Edward J.]

Re: Toooo HOT

It has no AC, the temp at the intake went to 225-235,the temp at top rad was about the same and the bottom 215-225. befor I shut it off. It did clime to about 240, when Ishut it off it blow antifreeze out. It looks tobe a copper rad.I checked the fins they are cleane.

Scott, it sounds like a radiator issue, you should be seeing about a 30-35 degree difference from top to bottom hoses. Those seals around radiator are important for directing air flow to the radiator area. make sure there in place. But generally a radiator flow problem you'll note a slow climb of the coolant temp. til it just pegs the gage.

[Scott S.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Hi Ed, I don't have any seals around the shroud it never did, but it never over heated be for ether. I just changed the thermosat the guy that did my motor put a 195 degree,Iput a 180 in and it's still over heating but like you said it took 10 min to hit 235-240 befor I shut it off, then it blow coolent out. I guss next is to pull the rad.

[Scott S.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Hi Rob, No I don't have any seals around the shroud,it never had them when I baught it. But it never over heated befor I had the motor done.I just found out tonight the guy that did themotor put a 195 degree in it and I put a180 in and it still over heating. It has a new clutch fan,new water pump

[Edward J.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Scott,these old cars can never be simple, most cars when they over heat its a simple themostat. But with 40+ year old corvettes, it never easy. You have to be very fussy about what parts you install, some work and some not so well. this goes for replacement radiators, water pumps,anti freeze mixture, so before you install or replace a part make sure its the same as what your removing. rebuilt parts such as water pumps are a common issue of not functioning as the factory. the impellers are sometimes replaced with one that may not flow well.

Any way if you replace the radiator, buy one that is like the factory, such as dewitts ( OUCH!!) OR there are some other good replacement aluminum I have seen on e/bay.

[Scott S.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Aint that the TRUTH!!!!!. Well Im going to replace the bottom rad hose and get the rad flushed and see what happens next.

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Since you say your car never over heated prior to the engine rebuild I'm thinking you might have a timing problem.

If you send me your email address I can forward an article by John Hinckley which details all the issues and cures to over heating.

[Paul O.]

Re: Toooo HOT

Scott

Have you checked the Radiator cap that can cause the coolant being released if the cap does not hold till 15# of pressure. Also if the cap is a reproduction they have been know to release pressure at a lower or even at a high pressure then recommended. I would have the cap tested and if it fails for driving around I would by an AC Delco later S/S version you can get them for around $20.

Paul 18046