Well now that I finished the carb conversion, I decided to take it for a drive. Smooth shifts, motor strong as can be, but I'm overheating. After about a 15-20 mile loop in 75 degree weather...I got back to the house. My after market gauge climbed some to 210, but when I shut it off all hell broke loose.

Coolant started boiling out of the tank and the gauge almost instantly spiked to 230. I replaced the thermostat during my conversion, but everything else is the same. I know I only have 1 fan running for most of the time, but will two make THAT big of a difference. Or do I need a new radiator or thermostat?

 

Specs on motor and rad?

 

if you have the stock radiator it'll probably do that. i'm running a 383 with a griffin alum. rad. and mine NEVER
gets over 200.

 

Yea it is the stock radiator. I just had too much coolant in the system...boiled out the overflow. I'm rather new at this mechanic thing. I change my whole intake system smoothly then put in too much coolant...anyway...

I'll tinker with a few things. But I think I'll end up with an after market radiator anyway. What model griffin do you have btw? I have an 87 iroc with a 350.

 

If you havent gone from a 305 to a 454 your cooling system should work just fine. IF its not working fine, here are some things to check out, i know the cooling system inside and out now, ive replaced everything in the cooling system.

You changed the thermostat, is it sitting up the right way ??
Is your air damn on the bottom of your car still there ???
Does your fan kick on, or do you have a switch for your fan?
Hows the seal on the Pressure Plug on top of the radiator?
Start your car, stand in the front of it, reach with ur right arm and reved it up about 5k, watch for the main hose coming outa the bottom left of the radiator to suck together, play with it rev it up like ur trying to impress a hottie, mine wouldnt suck together till like 3k when that was one of my probs.
Check the front of the rad for plastic bags or trash


I only have 1 small fan on mine, but if your cruising it shouldnt get hot anyways from the air flow.
Should only get hot when stoped for a while if your having a probs with the fans

 

i got a griffin circle track radiator with two 1" wide cores without trans cooler. I have a separate trans cooler in front of rad.

 

- Air Dam is intact
- Thermostat has the shaft inside the intake, the rounded bulb looking piece towards the upper hose.
- The seal, well nothing leaks or spews from the radiator cap
- The first fan is always on. I've never seen the 2nd one run, I assume it runs when the motor reaches 230

Seems to be around 210-220 when cruising. But when I turn the engine off it slowly climbs to 230ish.

 

i have a 1988 rs but i took out the v6 and put in a 454 bbc and a 4 core and that has 3 fans on it two 15's and a 12" and it still over heats i have changed out the thermostat to a 160degree from a 195 dagree and im running 97 octine and it still over heats only after 4 miles .... how can i get it to cool down to 200 i need some help on this ..... the thing will over heat no matter what what am i going to do