Hello guys, I got an 85 Trans-Am Tpi with a 305 in it. I just recently went on my first long trip in her. About halfway through I started over heating. I let her cool down and changed the water blah blah blah. I ended up having to do that in just about every city. When I got to my destination, I changed the water pump (it was leaking), radiator fluid, radiator cap, and I checked my radiator (it was good). But I'm still climbing up to 260. It was suggested to me that I may have blown a head gasket or warped a head. Does anyone have any idea what is causing this?

 

Is the air dam intact, and pointing forward?

 

my money is on a bad thermostat or perhaps a lack thereof(no thermostat causes coolant to circulate constantly, but the problem is its not in the engine long enough to act as a heat sink/soak so actually causes overheating problems), would help to know whether its overheating at highway speeds or in city/traffic type situations. Blown HG or warped head is unlikely, though if you overheat it bad enough you might create that problem, check your oil for coolant, it would appear milky in color and thinner, should know it when you see it, if it has it.

 

Removing or having a failed thermostat will cause the engine to run ice cold. The whole "overheating without a thermostat" is an old wives tale.
Does the car have a mechanical fan? In good shape? With shroud?

Even without the air damn, the fan should keep the engine below 260*, unless you're going 100 mph or constantly up hills.

I agree - check your oil. That's how you'll know if your head gasket failed. However, if that did happen, you'd overheat because you would have leaked out all of your glycol. Did it leak any?

 

I don't know anyone that's run without one but it would make sense in theory...might test it out once I can figure out where the hell my CTS wire wound up, spliced what I am almost positive was it to my new sending unit but got nada from the gauge...

 

Hey guys, I did change my thermostat and I changed my radiator hoses last night. The air dam is intact. And she still is over heating. I drove her around yesterday for a little bit and she slowly started climbing up. I took her on a six mile loop doing about 55 and she was just a little bit above 220. It seems the longer I drive her the hotter she gets. There is also a wire that I had to unplug to get to my water pump, and now I can't remember where it went. Now that this wire is unplugged she idles at 600 rpm and dies if I don't throttle it whenever I stop. I'll post a pick and maybe someone can tell me where it goes. It comes off of the front left end of my car and loops all the way down by my alternator. I thought it went to my fan but that's already plugged in (it does work).