Hey guys, I have a 1991 Trans Am convertible (if that makes a difference) that I often drive like a sports car... which involves hard cornering and jack rabbiting from stops. But during some spirited driving, I can easily get the temp gauge on the dash to hit 220. Red zone is still a ways off but my other car, a 1994 GMC Jimmy, runs at less than 200, and I jack rabbit that thing occasionally too (not as often though). Yeah I know, completely different car/engine but the principles of an internal combustion engine are the same right? If I relax and just cruise, the temperature will drop to somewhere between 190-210.

*The Trans Am has the 305 TPI engine mated to a 700r4 tranny
*Coolant levels are normal
*Car has almost 99,000 miles.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

these types of cars tend to run hotter than your average car. Ive read that 220 is perfectly fine. My cars rund at 220 also, so im assuming its fine.

 

220*is typical of later thirds and not a problem.
even with the same thermostat,the jimmy will run cooler
because it has more airflow through the radiator with it's
big belt drive fan and more open grill

 

Oh that's a relief... thanks guys!

 

Dude, i would not let my car run that hot if i were you. Yeah, our cars are designed to run at hotter temps like that. Rest assured though, that you do have your secondary cooling fan (passengers side fan) come on at around 240 or so. Still, 220 is a little high for any car to run at. I currently use a 160 degree thermostat ,but i am also using a hypertech thermomaster chip designed for this. I also installed a wire from my secondary fan switch to a switch inside the car so i may turn on my secondary fan whenever i want to. Especially after driving it hard.

 

thats a smart Idea, i would do that, but since my car now has an older engine, and a new high flow radiator I don't have electric fans =[

but I am thinking about soon upgrading

 

Upgrading to electric fans will yeild about 20 hp increase by the way

 

wow, im gona have to look into that. ahha. if only I could find some cheap.

 

Electric fans are cheap.

 

well i saw some in a 82 - 02 camaro firebird catalog from yearone, and they were like 500 bucks for 2 fans or something.

 

Not every single fan is cheap but in general they are cheap. You can get a used 21 inch stock single camaro fan for less than $50. You can get a new 16'' after market fan for around $50, the ford uber fan found on the 3.8L torus can be had for $70-$100 in used condition and its more fan than any of us will ever need for any thing we can afford to build. You can get those tortus fans for real cheap if you pull one out of a junk yard from some one who doesn't realize what they have.
Ebay is your friend.
If you want direct bolt in with the shroud, harnes, connectors, hard ware, relays, wires; in other words you want all the work done for you expect to pay dearly for it.
Year one can be over priced on some things, be sure to shop around.

 

ok thanks for the info