I currently have a 305 TBI in a 91 RS. It has always run hot when in traffic with the air on. Will approach 240/250 on the temp guage. I had a 180 fan switch and thermostat and went to a 160 fan switch and thermostat and
not much improvement.It will cool off when you are moving and without air.
I am going to install a 350 TBI set up shortly and wonder If I have to go to a dual fan set up with the bigger engine.
Any suggestions for the 350 and anything I can check of do to make the current 305 run cooler? Whats involved in switching to dual fans? I hope like hell I don't have to.
Thanks, and man am I glad this board is back up and those in the know are back!!!

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91 camaro RS convert
t-5
open element air cleaner
TBI spacer
Flowmaster muffler

 

My friends '92Z28 started tto everheat a couple weeks ago while mine stayed cool at about 180. He has the dual fan set up and a 305TPI with stock stat.

I have the single fan with 160 stat, so, maybe he just has a bad radiator I don't know, but my 1 fan works well for me.

Just my thought

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Flowmaster,Edelbrock open filliment filter with K&N filter in it
160 stat,

 

First in your 305TBI recheck you timing. This can make the engine run hot if retarded enough and still seem to run normal!
If that is okay then check for anything blocking the radiator such as paper or leaves. The radiator caps have a tendency to go bad so it only cost about $15 so it may be wise to gat a new one. Also check to make sure the water pump is work and that the fan is working! Try flushing out the radiator and put a 50/50 mix in it.
As for the 350 ... I would say IMHO you will need 2 fans. And I heard that the temp sensor from the 305 CANNOT be used in the 350. Again this is what I heard, I don't know for sure.
Good Luck!

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89 IROC 350 Auto
TRUE DUAL Exhaust
Edelbrock Performer Aluminum Heads
ZZ9 Cam
TPIS Level 5 Chip

 

Installing dual fans is not difficult. Goto http://www.integrityonline5.com/metz...-Fan-Setup.htm for an article that was posted on how to convert over.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 5/15/00)

There can be only one!!

 

One other thing you need to be sure that you have all the baffles in place inside the front bumper to direct the airflow into the raditor, this makes a BIG difference. I built my Z up from scratch and the front end I purchased did not come with the baffles and I did not know they were missing. Then one day i was looking in the manual and noticed them so I made the lower baffle and installed it. Now I can drive in 110 degree heat with the AC on and the engine stays below 180*. Big difference from 230*. The air dam below the radiator creates a low pressure area behind the radiator to help draw more air through the radiator, but it needs help from the baffles in front.

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"84Z28/'91 305TPI comp cam flowmaster TB coolant bypass/shutoff valve to heater core MAT relocated Ram-Air(home-made) gutted air-box IROC ground effects/wheels GY245/50's 700R4 superior shift kit/ corvette servo(excellent shift kit BTW) Rebuilt engine and transplanted it myself. Love this engine!
LOW performance people should drive low performance vehicles!

 

Where are the baffles you are talking about? can you go in to a little more detail.

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86Z28, GM 350, Jet perf Q-jet & chip Dual snorkel air cleaner, Edelbrock performer intake, Edelbrock headers, Edelbrock cat-back, Off road pipe, MSD 6AL, Accel Super Coil, Moroso Blue max wires, Rapid fire plugs, Jet fan switch, World class t-5, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Ram Flywheel, Center force dual friction clutch,Aluminum drive shaft, BW disc rear 3.45's & a posi, PBR calipers, Earls braided brake lines, Polygrapite bushings all the way around, poly tranny mount & torque arm mount, Hotchkis lower control arms & panhard rod, Rancho limiter straps, KYB struts & shocks, Gm Wonderbar, Edelbrock strut tower brace, SSM sub frame connectors, Jamex lowering springs, Carbon metallic brake pads, Crossed drilled rotors, Mobil 1 Tranny fluid & motor oil, GM syntheic rear end oil, K&N, Grant stering wheel, 1,200 watt system, Jet Black Paint, 91 Z28 rims, 92 wing, Tinted windows.

 

Excellent suggestions and thanks for the link to the dual fan set up. I never thought about the baffels. My air dams are just fine, but when I made ultimate TBI mods
I took the top cover(baffle?)off which is between the bumper and front end and the radiator. I will put this back on to see if it helps with cooling. Also the timing
tip is a good one. I have never checked it cause it runs so well, so will try that also.
Thank you bros. I have been freaked since this board was down and i couldn't get well
informed answers anywhere else...

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91 camaro RS convert
t-5
open element air cleaner
TBI spacer
Flowmaster muffler

 

The lower baffle runs between the bottom of the front bumper straight back and ends about 6 inches or so in front of the bottom of the radiator. There is another one, although I do not have this one, and it is more or less in front of the radiator and it just chanels the air directly to radiator. I never have installed this one because the lower works so well.
One other thing, be sure that the fan, if engine mounted, is as close to the radiator as possible and that you have the correct shroud in place. If no shroud the fan cannot develope enough suction through the radiator for efficient cooling. If electric fans be sure they are still coming on and turning strong.

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"84Z28/'91 305TPI comp cam flowmaster TB coolant bypass/shutoff valve to heater core MAT relocated Ram-Air(home-made) gutted air-box IROC ground effects/wheels GY245/50's 700R4 superior shift kit/ corvette servo(excellent shift kit BTW) Rebuilt engine and transplanted it myself. Love this engine!
LOW performance people should drive low performance vehicles!

 

If none of the other tips work for you, look into a replacement radiator. I know some of the TBI and LG4 cars had a thinner radiator, I guess it was a 2 row or something, compared to the 3 row that the TPI and H.O. cars typically had. Between that larger capacity radiator and dual fans, your cooling problems should be long gone.

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1996 Trans Am WS6 (Ram-Air)w/K&N, airfoil, Lakewood LCA's and Panhard Bar, Dynomax Ultraflow race muffler
3rd gens formerly owned:
Red '88 IROC-Z LB9 5.0 TPI (can be seen in Featured Rides)
Red '85 Camaro LG4, converted to 355

 

A bottle of Wetterwater couldn't hurt either. Also, when I flushed my system and switched to cheapy antifreeze I noticed a big difference, for the worse, that is.

 

Very important! do not run any more than 50/50 anti freeze to water because the water is where you get the cooling not the anti freeze. The anti freeze only raises the boiling point and lowers the freezing point. You would be surprised at how many people think it is the other way around.

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"84Z28/'91 305TPI comp cam flowmaster TB coolant bypass/shutoff valve to heater core MAT relocated Ram-Air(home-made) gutted air-box IROC ground effects/wheels GY245/50's 700R4 superior shift kit/ corvette servo(excellent shift kit BTW) Rebuilt engine and transplanted it myself. Love this engine!
LOW performance people should drive low performance vehicles!

 

I been Freak'd to Bro.......