I always keep an eye on my gauges and today driving home from work (about 11 miles) temp gauge shot passed red and the engine oil presure was real low. Got home and car was peeing coolant. I THOUGHT the previous owner had just changed the radiator (I texted him and waiting for a text back - may be under warrenty). I jacked the car up and took a good look at it. The radiator does look fairly new and from further inspection the coolant was coming out somewhere near the bottom of it. A hose? a connection? I checked the oil and its LOW but not out of of the range alloted for proper running of the engine. Advice?

 

Well, I think its the radiator. I pulled the radiator and I'm going to replace it. I also picked up a water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hose and belt. All for just over $200 with a life time warranty and I'm going to replace it in the morning. Shouldn't be to hard...knock on wood. Flush it and I should be good to go.

 

OEM rad or 100% aluminum?

 

I got all OEM rad...I know, I know, believe me I wanted to get all race parts but is it worth it? If I get to the point where I really do any motor work, I'll probably pull the 305 and put a 350 crate motor in. And that's a ways off since my 305 is strong. I'm all about upgrading the Bird but I think I'm going to hold off till I have the time to put a new motor in.

 

My poorly made chinese rad keeps the car about 115 degrees on the highway and 185 in stop and go traffic in the city.

 

Yup. That's whatever I figured. Life time warrenty. I'd rather save up for a crate motor. I just replaced the water pump, lower hose but the damn thermostat bolts DO NOT want to come off. I saw the problem, the thermostat exploded and was all up and down the upper radiator hose. Sprayed the bolts with some WD40 and going to hit it with a breaker bar.

 

All I can say is LOTS of lubicrant and be VERY careful...don't want those to break off. Mine were a pita to get out and I shot them with WD-40 after about every half turn. The bolt right under the throttle body was fun..(sarcasm).

 

Dakota W - Well it took me all day but replaced and flushed whole system. Runs strong. The 305 TBI many not be the fastest motor but it is a tank. Also flushed and refilled the transmission fluid. It came out clean also.

 

I think it's the LT series engines in general, They are just built like Chevy trucks, like a rock, slow but sturdy! Your TBI would probably kick some major rustang @$$ with a new carb and dual injectors...My tpi would take heads, cam, valve train, intake, and a tune. In my opinion it's not about the TBI being slow, it's about it being inadequately equipped. Glad you got your car's bladder under control though!

 

So, this morning, turned the car on fine, everything seemed the be good. Let it warm up a bit, compression was good in the cooling system, but I noticed a leak...like under the motor! A little leak. There is no way that engine is blown it runs really smooth and it was not dumping fluid. After flushing the system maybe rust was washed clean a caused a leak on a Coolant Plug? I grabbed a bag of them for $8 and going to throw the car on a lift at lunch.

 

Got it up on the lift and I guess it WAS NOT the coolant plug but a leak around the thermostat cap seal. Took it off, sanded it smoother, tossed some sealant on there and it's rockn and rolln!