Hey guys,

Well, I was driving around today and had the A/C on in the car (decided to try it out since getting it recharged) and it worked great on the freeway, all 26 miles round trip. The issue was when I got off the freeway and on the side streets, my single fan couldn't keep the engine cool, it eventually crept up to 260 (240?) in the red. Turned AC off, eventually cooled back off. Turned it back on, heated back up.

Normally, with no A/C running, it'll kick up to the 220 mark on the gauge when the fan turns on and cools it back off to about half way between the 220* mark and the tick before it on the thermostat gauge. I've got a BeCool aluminum radiator and 160* thermostat in it with a single electric fan and jet fan switch (on 195, off 175 or so--I think the gauge is a bit off. lol).



I swapped the 305 for a 350 two years ago and finally got it running well enough to get the A/C fixed on it (just in time for winter, yeah, I know...). So this is the first time I've run it like this.

Any suggestions on why it would get so hot?

 

Did it boil over? These factory guages are notoriously off, if it didn't boil over then it didn't overheat, might just be guage is really off.

 

is it the original electric fan or something aftermarket?
If it's the original that is not keeping up,might be time
for an upgrade-3.8 taurus,H/D fiero,factory dual,4th gen
dual,ETC. If it's an aftermarket thinline style fan in
place,thats likely the problem right there-those just
don't move enough air for heavy duty situations

 

might be time for an upgrade-3.8 taurus fan.

Yes research and look into the Taurus fan.

 

It's the factory single electric fan.

It did not boil over. If I am to believe the fan switch is correct, then my gauge is at least reading 30* high based on when fan turns on. gauge reads 225+ and fan switch is 195*.

 

You might be interested in another approach to dual electrics (I used OE GM):

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...electrics.html

JamesC

 

Since I have the factory electric fan how much of this stuff do I really need?

 

My bad, Ozz. For some unexplained reason, I was thinking your 84 was belt driven.

JamesC

 

when I bought my 84 trans am brand new it had a terrible time with the california heat and the a/c on blizzard. but in that day no other electric fan options were available. it's cure was a LG-4 mechanical fan and shroud and it never had a problem again.

 

Interesting. On my old LG4 with mechanical fan, I'd have to cut the AC in stop-and-go traffic--or even at the McDonalds drive through.

JamesC

 

My car was brand new though and also had the HD cooling system with the staggered 3 row radiator not the single pass standard radiator. Over time the a/c gets restrictions that also cause higher pressures and cooling issues. Even my 97 camaro will get hot when idling for more then 30 minutes with the a/c on. However it never overheats usually gets to a tad bit over 220 and can hold at that.

 

You and I are at the same when going thru drive thrus. Had to turn off the car and AC at Sonic this afternoon when getting the daughter a burger and Slushee after school!

But she did like it when she knew I bought the Z28 to pick her up!!

 

Get the torass fans they work like a champ.I put them in my car and in 110° stop and go car runs at first tick on stock Gage. Its ez to make the mounts. Good luck

 

I've had the same issue with a 92 RS. With no a/c, it barely tips 160. The fan is always on.(rigged). With the a/c on, it hits 180 but idling, it'll hit 220+. I've checked the temp with a digital gauge its right on. Could it be the condenser is clogged? Anyone have pics/post of the taurus fans mounted? Do the Firebird dual-setups bolt right on to the RS? ANY help is greatly appreciated.

 

220 is not overheating. 240 is not overheating. When fluid bubbles out into overflow, that's overheating. These cars were designed to run hot - not the best thing GM ever did, but none the less it's done.

Might try cleaning the junk out from between the rad and the condenser - alot of leaves and stuff accumulate there - this should be done every oil change. Just take top rad cover off, tilt the rad towards the engine enough to get the shop vac hose in there - takes 5 minutes.

If you want cooler, try a 180 stat and a lower fan switch, or a better fan. Add Water Wetter.