My car gets to about 220-230 on the highway. My air dam is a bit shaggy, but my car gets that hot at idle too! I just put in a 160 degree thermo, New Water pump (just a NAPA refurbished), AND a new radiator from 1800 Radiator for 165 dollars. it is the stock upgrade one...don't remember how many cores it had. I also got a big block fan that I turn on manually as soon as i start. i got a mech temp gauge form autometer. So, what else can be wrong. I get bubbles in the coolant, but that it when it gets red (270*). The only time that happens is when i forget to turn on the fan switch . I notice a verrry little oil leak out the valve covers, so i need new gaskets in those. Should iput in new head gaskets?

I know my timing is screwed up, and I switched to a Holley S/A 670 that seems to be out of tune. Is that where I am getting hot. i know that lean=hot. Or should i go with a higher flow pump?

--Dan

 

A lean condition can make some extra heat so that my be one thing to look into. I sure hope that you're not running in the red on a regular basis? If you decide to change the head gaskets, you might also wanna consider getting the heads resurfaced too cause they're probably not straight anymore after running that hot. How old is your rad. cap? If it's not very new, you might want to try and replace that too.

Tom

 

Try a new termostat and get the 3 row all metal radiator at autozone or www.radiatorexpress.com

 

he just said he got a new radiator...
do u like work for radiatorexpress.com or something?? or do u just really love their radiators..

 

Jee breathment just trying to help, he got a stock replacement and it was cutting it so I gave him another alternative.

 

If your gauge reads 270 degrees, and you can look in the radiator at the coolant at all without it being a volcano, then the gauge is way wrong.

try a temp gauge sending unit, it'll probably fix your overheating problem.

 

I just love the guys that suggest skipping the cheap simple stuff first and go right for the bigger more expensive possibilities.

 

Dan,
Here's an easy thing to check. What concentration of coolant are you using? If you're using 100% glycol then that could be your problem. It's the water in the solution that carries the vast majority of the heat. Try a mix of 70% water and 30% glycol.

 

But if you don't stay with a 50 50 strength corrosion will eat you alive, trust me I know, I had freeze plugs get holes in them from corrosion.

 

With the bubbles it sounds like you may have air trapped in the system. You may have to try and bleed the air out.

Another possiblity is a blockage somewhere, a rad flush may or may not help.

 

Corbi has a good point. I've heard of many cases where a little air trapped in the system caused quite a large coolant blockage. There are different suggested ways to try to eliminate the air pocket. I suggest you do a search and find a method you like.

 

usualy, being that the radiator cap is the highest point in the cooling system.. one cycle of the car getting warmed up and then cooling off will bleed out all the air by its self..

 

That's what you'd expect, that's what always happens for me. Nevertheless, some people have big problems from trapped air. Some people drill small holes in their thermostat so coolant and air can pass slowly before the stat actually opens.