My '68 Camaro has still been running hot, has a 383 stroker engine (the one with a hairline crack that I wrote about on an earlier post). We've been trying to figure out why it has been running so hot, and if that may have caused the crack. I switched to a 160 degree thermostat (from 180), still runs hot. After driving a few miles, the upper radiator hose is hot, but the lower hose is only a little warm-- could this mean the problem might be in the radiator itself?
Terry M.
Sounds like the water pump!
Heat rises, so it will exit the thermostat housing, and the water pump pulls from the lower radiator hose.
The impeller might be loose or might have fallen off the shaft on the water pump. You can remove the back cover on the water pump, and the back gasket comes with some timing cover kits. (The off brands)
But, it could be a blockage in the radiator, from using too much stop leak. It is a crossflow radiator.
Refinish King
I was thinking both those things...supposedly this radiatior is new, but you never know.
Thanks for the info--
My pleasure!
Refinish King
Terry, I may have missed a post but I don't know how hot it is. Are you sure the gauge is accurate? The temp at the thermostat will be approx. the rating of the thermostat but the reading you get from the temp sender can be quite different. My L79 327 indicates 205 with a
192 stat ma>My '68 Camaro has still been running hot, has a 383 stroker engine (the one >withRetarded timing causes an engine to run hotter;
Refinish King
Most certainly agreed.
Original poster: You aren't trusting a dash gauge to tell you you're running hot, are you? Those things are NOT accurate.
Get a good temperature gun/probe and check it that way. Only real way to tell.
On a newer computer controlled car, it can easily be checked with a scanner because it reads through the coolant temperature sensor to the ECM :).
Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going.... '91 S10 Blazer 4.3Z
I was using a high-tech temperature gauge-- my hands! Upper hose is real hot, lower hose is cool to the touch. The engine overheated in city driving, antifreeze literally boiled out & onto the ground. I changed to a lower thermostat, but it is still running hot. When I have this engine torn down I will have my builder have a good look at the water pump mechanism, see if that may be the problem-- Thanks
Did the car start overheating after the new radiator was installed? If it was recently filled, you may have air in the system. This could also keep the coolant form circulating. If your thermostat does not have one, drill a small hole in it to allow the air to get out.
The old engine didn't overheat with this radiator, just the new one. I just replaced the thermostat, maybe I'll take your advice and drill a hole in it, then try again-- Thanks, Terry M.
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