I posted before about this but I left out something that I just relized.

I have a carb 350 sbc in a 88 z28. I did a top end rebuild. New intake, carb, dst, water pump, psp, alt. My car used to run at 190 degrees with the old stuff. Now it runs between 230-250. I just relieved that I did not use the restrictor plates that came with my edelbrock intake gaskets ( the rectangle metal things). I also did not hook up my heatercore. could this be the problem? I do not want to redo the intake gaskets if I not have to.


thanks in advance
Jesse

 

when is your fan turning on at?? (single or dual fans??) is it getting hot with the fans on, or are the fans not turning on until 230?? Are you going by factory gauge or a laser temp pointer??

 

i am turning one on manually at 190 degrees. I never used the second fan before. no computer controls. I am going by factory gauge just like before the rebuild.

 

what temp thermostat did you use? and did you set the timing at the same base timing

 

Is everything seemed sealed up good??? no leaks?? Did you put in a new thermostadt?? Does it feel really hot, or is gauge saying that?? How long have you driven it after these changes, right away (could be air bubble)

 

i used a 180 thermostat and timing is set at 12 degrees now. I tried 10 degrees also with the same result.

 

sometimes the restriction plates help cool it off, get a laser pointer and take temp of upper and lower hoses if you can to see difference, (or use hand to feel difference). you might have a sticking thermo. if one is way cooler than other it's sticking

 

I just looked at my paperwork and i have a highflow wp from edelbrock. Do I need a highflow thermostat? I have a cheap autopart store(new) installed now.

 

It shouldn't matter, but maybe give it a try.....start with the easy ideas, and then keep going until you find it.
Also, what did you do with the heater core lines you didn't hook up....did you just block them off??? if so that's you problem right there. You should have to lines from heater core to engine......you have to connect the ones that come off engine together.

 

i hooked up the heater core today. The car ran 20 to 30 degrees cooler! I guess it was the heater core but it still does not run at 190 like it used to. thanks again.

 

Good you figured it out.
I was just about to say you must have a thermostat by pass. If you do not have one it causes all kinds of problems when you get out on the high way. In the city its normally not noticeable.
People removing the by-pass has cracked countless heads over the years.