My 100% stock RS '92 with LO3 runs hot as all 3rd gen cars I have seen. It commonly hits 220. The electric fan kicks on and cools it down some, but still! Seems to never run much below 200 degrees for long. Yes, the factory air dam is perfectly intact under the nose. The temps around here run in the 90-110 in the summer. But it still runs pretty hot in the winter, too.
It's been like that since I got it (almost new).

Is this normal?
The factory must put some crappy radiators in these things. My stock '02 runs cooler.

 

Well i also had some problems whit that. But i left my car to my friend and he changed the temp sensor , i think its located somewhere under the engine. Now i dont have any problems it just get hot enough to run in closed loop and a little bit over that. But the temp dont change even when you really push the car to the limit during hot summer days.

 

Moving to the Cooling It Down board..

Willie

 

Mine runs very cool, even in the summer here in Phoenix. It has been running so cool that I am balking at putting on the 160 degree thermostat I have.

 

It's perfectly normal for a stock 305 (LO3) to run at that temp. That's the best temp for passing emission tests.

IIRC, the stock t-stat is 195* and the fan is set to come on ~215*-220* and off at 200*. It's not a bad thing.

Actually Smokey Yunick (spelling?) says that most engines put out max HP and effeciency aroung 200*. It's just that most people run higher comp ratios, and the only way to avoid detonation is to run the engine at a cooler temp.

The 9.3:1 comp ratio on a small bore 305, with a whimpy cam running on 87 octane can get away with running at ~200*. They do this by retarding the base timing and putting in "knock sensors".

I personally changed mine to 180* t-stat and a Hypertech fan switch (on @ 200*/ off @ 185*) so the Jet Stage II chip timing table doesn't cause any problems. Honestly I haven't noticed a big improvement. Although it does take a little longer for my car to warm up inside since it's starting to get cold. I still have the stock chip, and I may put it all back the way it was. I got better MPG before.

AJ

 

I have a 1991 Camaro and have the same issue. Its not really a problem, all these models run hot. You can be in a drive through and the gauge hits 220, fan kicks in, and cools it down. But when you are cruisin down the freeway, Its way cooler, around 160-200 I believe. (I cant remember, have to see it). Dont worry. If you redline, then worry though. :lala:

 

They just run hot like that. I just finished my cooling system and now it's just around 190*. Don't know why I did that cause it doesn't warm up as it was in the winter. But unless it starts going close to red line there isn't anything to worry about.

 

does a switch really help matters??? at what temp do our cars run fastest at?

 

Just bekaws I kant spel "around" doz knot meen dat I cun't spel.
I stil no sum tings abowt mowders.

AJ