I am the proud new owner of a 88 Camaro that i bought as a project car to work on, so i dont have to go to the bar every weekend. When i bought the car I already knew it needed some work and i have tried to get some done but these problems havent stopped.

1) After I took delivery of the car, and drove off the seller called me and told me he forgot (if he forgot then i am the pope) that the thermostat that was in my engine (350 with a edelbrock carb) wasnt working, so i installed a new one today and the tempurature seems to be still running high (200-220 on a 180 thermostat). I cant figure out why it still would be running high, i thought at first it was a bad thermostat but i went back and got another one and the car is still doing the same thing.

2) when idling my car is idling at 700 rpm but it jumps to 900 when idling and then back down, i am not a car smart guy (i am planning on learning what i can with this car) and i was wondering what causes this. Any suggestions will be appreciated

 

the factory gauges are not very accurate, the temp is fine. Just make sure the fan(s) are turning on and the air damn, under the nose attached to the radiator support, it there and in good shape. Does the idle just change for no reason or is the a/c on?

as for the temp again, if the car runs hot siting still, its an issue with the fans. Verify that they work.
if the car overheats when driving, its the airdam.

 

The temp running high may because by a number of things first when was the last time the cooling system was flushed out is there any trash like bugs or dirt behind the radiator that could cause it also is there an air dam on the bottom of the car. when it goes to high idle is it when you first start the car because that helps it warm up if it does it when warmed up at idle i am going to say vacum leak. Hope all this info helps

 

first i would check the radiator (i have seen some pretty nasty ones in terms of calcification/deposits that would interrupt flow).

then i would definitely flush the cooling system. i would use some Red-Line (its a coolent additive) in addition to the new coolent. it has always worked really well for me, when i use redline i do about a 25-30% coolent by volume of the system.

i would invest in an aftermarket temp gauge, they are pretty cheap and an easy install.

i just got a new fan for my camaro (and eliminated the clutch), and that has helped out alot as far as temp goes.

Flexalite flex fan $38

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

and the spacer $16 (although i am not sure you need the same spacer (i have the long water pump) on my 350

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...part=FLX-14556