Odd thing with my car. When I drove it home for the first time, which was almost a year ago, it didn't overheat or anything. Now whenever I drive it it loves to overheat. Like today I was driving home no more than 5-10 miles and it overheated that quickly. Temp got up to bout 230 or so before I pulled off the side of the road and let it cool a little bit.

I had this problem before when everything was stock. I changed the thermostat and put in a 180* tstat. I bought an aftermarket fan (Permacool from Summit) and it still overheats. I've flushed the system a few times and made sure the water pump worked. It's been about 2 months since I flushed it out, I can try again.

I could try putting in a 160* tstat to see if that helps, but wanted someone else's opinion first.

 

Based on what you've said is done recently, the only
subtle culprit left is the radiator. Has it ever been
serviced professionally? They can get to a point of
being clogged up that even the 2-step flush won't
clear. Only removing & unsoldering the side tanks
will adequately reveal the core condition. Good luck...

 

Could a lack of air dam cause it to overheat?

 

Yes, but I don't think that quickly, that extremely.
The air dam is primarily for highway speed, to save
using the fan(s). If the rest of the system is
functioning properly, the fan(s) should be adequate.

 

I did notice that yesterday my temp was around 180 or so till I hit the highway, that's when it rose to 220. On the way home I started off on the highway and I hit bout 200-220 before I got off. I just wouldn't think my radiator would either be clogged or be bad when nothing has changed from it since the last time it worked.

 

my air dam came loose from the ground effect once and no matter how fast i was going it would still overheat. i would check that first and go from there

 

So you know a part of your cooling system isn't functioning yet you continue to post?

Go fix the air dam and report back.

 

well, I can't very well fix my air dam when it is completely gone. Plus while I wait for a new one to be delievered from Hawks, might as well get more suggestions

 

It's your air dam. You could fab one up out of aluminum or something until a stock replacement comes in.

 

I had the same problems. My car overheats even after replacing the thermostat, water pump, radiator, and gauges.

I asked my mechanic (my father) and he said that his Nova used to do the same thing and a three core radiator fixed the problem.

I didn't want to spend the $ for another radiator after buying a brand new one, so he told me about a product JC Whitney sells called STOPS overheating.

I just ordered it so it hasn't arrived in the mail, but I will let you know how it works when I get it. I don't know a lot at all about cars but I will have my dad look at the air dam to see if that could be the problem too.