I've shelled out over $2000 over the past 7 years to drive this thing for ABOUT 300 miles in the last few weeks. I've got a 91 with an L03 running a 600 cfm carb and a vacuum advance distributor. Air fuel mix looks good all the way up, timing is set at 12 degrees *btdc* initial, have new hoses and a high flow, correct rotation water pump I JUST put on 150 miles ago, along with a 160 degree thermostat with extra flow holes drilled, flushed the cooling system with all metal safe descaling solution as well as the usual Prestone super flush TWICE, new 16psi radiator cap, and there doesn't appear to be any more sediment in the block after popping a few freeze plugs. The air dams are all installed, and fans are brand new and operating as expected. It never exceeds 160 while it's idling, but doesn't pull down for crap once it gets up. It's creeping up REALLY slow, but quite steadily while driving, like, 160-230 in half an hour, regardless of speed, but then it never comes down. I kinda already know it's the radiator, but I'm hoping someone on here can tell me to hold off, and how to fix this on the cheap, and spend that cash on strut braces instead.

 

I got the exact same issue... cooling system is all stock, everything was fine for quite a while with no changes it started overheating all of a sudden after getting off the freeway. The overheating is very gradual and climbs up slowly. Fan is turning on and coolant exists, I'm thinking the radiator or the water pump but looking to see what responses you get as well.

 

I'm wondering if you mean 12* BTDC. If not, there's your problem. Also, IMHO, you fix what's broke first then mod it. An STB won't do you any good on a car that overheats.

 

I know it's not the water pump, as that's got less than 200 miles on it. The car was sitting for a LONG while with coolant in it, and my sacrificial anode was toast, so I figure the next thing to go after that is the w/p impeller, and went ahead and invested the $30 in a new high volume pump, but no dice, took the back off the old pump, and it was like new. I'm getting a pressure test on it as soon as my box from summit gets here. I've been needing one anyway, but I think Advance and Autozone both have them as loaners if you can part with the $100 or so deposit for a day or two. I'll keep this thread updated as I go.

 

Yeah, thanks. It's btdc, just a brain fart whilst typing. My timing teeth are factory, so I'd have to be trying real hard to retard the timing THAT badly.

As for buying the brace, I'm hoping for a cheap fix so that my budget can accommodate what my car wants, not just what it needs. So, that being said, what's your thought on this, knowing my timing is solid?

 

The block and water pump could be clean but debris can jam in the tubes of radiator. The only way to fix that is to take radiator apart and rod the tubes. or new radiator.

 

Can be casting sand and rust all jammed in there. Not 100 percent but is a something to check.

 

EdwardGP is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to. (11 years after the last post)

 

No , that was a rookie mistake for sure.