I have an 86 trans am / 305 , carbureted , the engine is brand new , not even a rebuilt one .... the radiator , thermostat and water pump have all been replaced but I over heat just driving down the street , Anyone have any Suggestions??

 

We need more info...what temp thermostat? Do you have your air dam on? What kind or coolant ratio are you running? Check your radiator cap for leaks. I would recommend going through and checking/replacing the cheap stuff before you get into anything expensive. Oh yeah, and what about your fans? More info is neaded to help you. Later

 

180 thermostat , brand new radiator and cap , no leaks there. I think the wiring for my fan may be messed up . Do you know where i could get a diagram??

 

Do you have a problem when going on the highway, or is it just like in traffic or slow driving? Just let your car idle in your driveway or something, and see what temps the fans come on...assuming you have dual fans. The primary fan should come on at a little after 220 and secondary...well that one takes forever unless you turn on the AC. Now if you did that cooler stat, did you change the chip? Because the computer probably isn't turning that primary fan on at the right temp for that 180 stat....just check to see what temp the fan comes on. I would do this before you mess with the wiring. Keep me posted.

 

if you jump your A & B (i believe) ALDL pins the fan should come on when your AUX power is on. then at least you can tell it works.

on my 86 TA, the fan is controlled from the speedometer, not the temp, so at low city driving it should be on. it should also turn on when you start your car.

i put dual fans on from the boneyard and hooked them up to switches and LEDs so I can monitor/control them. there are lots of info here to do that. the two fans do make a difference.

 

no I didnt change the chip when i put in the 180 , it only overheats in stop and go traffic . plus right now it is like 110 degrees outside ( not that that is any excuse...) I just bought the car like in October and you can tell someone has messed with the wires because , my temp gauge, for example works i guess , i mean it gets a reading and everything but if the A/C is turned on the needle stays buried at 260 !!?? ...

 

oh yeah , mine is just the single fan ...

 

oh, ok single fan. All I can tell you is check that wiring then. I don't know if that lower stat is effecting the computer at all....

 

At least mine wasnt controlled by the temp at all.

check it like i already mentioned.

you can always ground the relay and it should run all the time.

 

I live here in Vegas too. Having the same problem with my 91 tpi. I installed 2 pusher 14 to help. I have tried a griffen radiator and a reverse belt fan. I didnt notice much of a difference. I went back to the stock electric fan. plus the 2 14in up front. (helps with a/c on but still gets hot.

 

My 86 Tpi camaro was doing the same thing. I replaced the single fan to dual fans; which helped a little. One is wired stock, the other has its own relay and power source from a fusable link from the batt. I Used a 200 hypertech fan switch in the pass side head. Stock style new Aluminum/plastic rad edelbrock pump with the bypass blocked off, and 180 degree t-stat. In traffic before @ 110+ the car ran between 230-250 w/o a/c on. would overheat with the a/c on. Today it hit 118 in here in Mesa ran right about 220 with a.c on in traffic. about 200-220 on the freeway. I know everybody else has done at least some of this. I got most if my info from thirdgen. Good luck

 

Hey my ex-wife lives in Las Vegas
If your temp guage pegs, I'd check the green wire on the d/s of the engine near the #1 spark plug. That's your guage temp sender. If it is rubbed or otherwise grounded it will peg that guage.

I recently installed a pair of SPAL 11" electric fans. Those things rock and cool the car much better than I expected, and with a stock radiator too. I may be coming out there soon to see my son, and I'll try to post how those fans did in the desert heat.

 

thanks so much I appreciate it . This car has been driving me crazy , Ive got a 10 month old baby and I dont know how many times Ive ad to pull over in the 110 degree heat because my car was overheating /.(not cool when you got a baby in the car) . thanks though for the advice

 

Well I said I would let you know how those SPAL fans did in the desert heat, so here it is...and I've decided to stay here as well

Those SPAL fans do pretty great out in this heat. They haven't let the temp reach above 220* with the A/C on. So, there you go. Maybe this winter I'll put a dual core aluminum radiator in to help out a little more. I'm thinking Griffin 31" x 19". Hope that helps you out a little man. If you see my red IROC running around feel free to say HI, since I really don't know too many people here. Look for the "FORDS SUCK!!!" third brake light

 

make sure the timing is set right.

 

does the system need to be flushed? what is the ratio of water to antifreeze you are running?