Ok, my 88 GTA will run about 220 city driving, with a 180* Therm, but factory
fan switch. Now everyonce in a while it will climb past a few notches, wich i
understand its ok. But as soon as the A\C cuts on, boom, goes up to 240 and
beyond!! sorry.... but anyways, both fans are working, and when im on the
freeway it seems to take 20 min for it to climb down to 180. I flushed the
radiator and put about 3 bottles of cooling cleaner (not at the same time), i
cleaned off the front, and i am running 10-80 ratio of coolent to water. im
wondering if i were to take out the thermostat and drill a small hole in it, or
even get a so called "performance thermostat (which autozone claims flows more
water) if that will help keep me cooler. also, i thought that maybe i should
change the radiator cap, cause after driving with it at 220 u can see the
coolent boiling in the overflow. any help is much appreciated.

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88' GTA 350 MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass

 

First step is to find a laser thermometer, these things are the best! Check water temp at top and bottom of radiator, should be about 20 degrees difference, if more you have a plugged radiator. My sender was bad, and when I checked the water temp with my thermometer I found the problem. Other possible problems include worn out water pump of blown head gasket.

 

ttt

 

Pull out the radiator and make sure there isn't an accumulation of leaves, candy wrappers, feathers, cig. buts etc. between the radiator and A/C condenser. If there is, this will prevent the fans from doing their job because the air flow will be restricted. I am offering this advice from first hand experience. Since I did this, my overheating problems are gone for good.

 

what kinda shape are your hoses in.I've heard of them getting weak to the point where they can collapse when they get hot and not allow the water to flow.next time it gets hot maybe take a look and make sure there're not not closing up.



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1991 1LE Z28 355cu 5SPD (ORIGINALLY 305 BEST E.T. 14.186@99.86mph)NO PASSES ON 355 YET.MINI RAM INTAKE,AFR 190 HEADS,10.23:1cr 24# SVO INJECTORS,BBK 52mmTB,AFPR
FULL ROLLER MOTOR,1.6 rockers MSD 6AL
AUTOMETER A/F GAGUE MARCH PULLEYS,HEDDMEN HEADERS 3IN EXH NO CATS FLOWMASTER,POWER TRAX NO-SLIP LOCKER,3:42 GEARS,LAKEWOOD LOWER CONTROL ARMS HOTCHIKS STRUTTOWER BRACE,COMPETTION ENG.SUBFRAME CONNECTORS
MALLORY TACH W/SHIFT LITE
BLACK, TINTED WINDOWS, TAIL LIGHT COVERS BIG BLOCK COWL INDUCTION HOOD,SHAVED DOOR HANDLES

67RS 327cu 92K ORIG MILES.NEWER GM HEADS HEADERS,650 HOLLEY CARB,CAM, 350 TURBO TRANS W/SHIFT KIT&COOLER 12 BOLT POSI 3.73'S MUTLILEAF SPRINGS
NEW VINYLROOF&CARPET, COWL HOOD,HIDE AWAY HEAD LITES,

 

i do have a slight leak near the firewall on my heater hoses, but its only like a tiny hole that leaks about half an ounce a day or less. could it be that im loosing pressure in the cooling system.

 

This post won't help your problem, but you gotta be careful when you use that radiator cleaning detergents. It works by removing a layer of the metal (which is usually dirt, which is why you need to use it.) By using it three times, you may have worn out a few of your cooling parts.

When I used that stuff on my old car because it was running at 240 constantly, a week later I found myself stranded on the road with a bad water pump.

 

I just recently fixed the same problem. I put a new water pump, thermostat (195), and hoses on my car and now it's cool runnings.

Turned out the pump was not pumping properly,
even though it was cycling coolant.
Phil

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89 IROC 5.0 TBI
Soon to be a 5.0 TPI, with a disk rear.

[This message has been edited by IROCZ89 (edited August 14, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by IROCZ89 (edited August 14, 2001).]

 

CHECK YOUR CAP OR HAVE IT TESTED. I CAN CAUSE THIS PROBLEM