I got a rebuilt 305 with a 160 stat, new water pump, flushed radiator, and so-on. The engine itself runs real cool, my gauge never goes over 170 in 100degree weather. The problem i have is my engine compartment getting too hot. I put some header wraps on my headers and it helped, some. If i cruise around for more than half-hour my air cleaner and carb are burning up. Of course i feel power go down. Plus i hate having to wait for 'em to cool down before i start it again. I also took off the weatherstripping on the back of the hood, but again it only helped a bit.
I know a cowl induction hood would help out getting some of the hot air out, but is there anything else i can do? Is there some type of insulation i can use on the air cleaner to reflect away heat? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

actually, cowl hoods bring outside air into the engine bay...

 

have you removed the rear rubber seal

 

Outside air ducted to your air cleaner is the best way I know of to help that problem along with a phenolic (I think that is how it is spelled) carb spacer, however, you might want to verify that your gauge is correct. Your engine compartment would not get that hot, even with headers, to cause a problem like that unless the engine were getting really hot.

The best way to temp your engine is to use a laser type thermometer and check the temp at the gauge sending unit, the water housing, the "hot" side of the radiator and the "cool" side of the radiator. That way you get a complete picture of what is going on, and how much of a temperature drop your radiator is doing.

 

I just bought an AutoMeter gauge, and it reads the same temps. It didn't go over 165 last night.
And i checked out my buddie's rides, and they got just as hot. So i guess it's normal for them to heat up like that, mine was actually cooler than a couple of 'em. They don't have problems starting up though, i guess its cause they are FI.
I guess i wasn't specific, but the problem i have is that it wont fire up till the second time i crank it. I know it might not be that big of a deal, but it bothers me. Can it be a carb problem? I have the Edelbrock 600cfm btw.

 

Technically, if you're at a stop wont the hot air have "somewhere" to go if there is a big opening out back? I know the main purpose for them is to get cooler air from the pressure build up in the "cowl" area of the windshield, but it should still act as a means of hot air removal.
I remember in my TransAm with the "powerbulge" hood I could feel hot air coming out from the rear opening at a stop. In fact i could see "little" heat waves coming out!!

 

z man i have the same prob, my car can be running cool and all but when i shut it off and go to start it, she just cranks a few then i try again and tap the gas a lil and it will fire up, im also thinking it may be our carbs because i have an edelbrock 750 on mine