I have a 305 tpi stock and i recently changed plugs, oil, transfluid, radiator. The temp usually runs around 220 degrees is this normal? I live in hawaii and it gets really hot in the car. I checked my fans and they turn on around 230 degrees. Is there anyway to make my car run cooler? Please help im burnin up in my car!!

 

I use to live in Florida so I know what you are going threw.They always run that hot got my 87 gta in 1990 with 30000 miles on it and it always ran around 220 and if the spoiler under neith the car gets busted off the car would over heat quikly I have got my car to run a lot cooler this is what I have done to it.I replaced the thermostat with a 160 deg one and Jet has a fan switch that turns the fans on at 200 deg and turns them off at 185 you can get them from summit for around $30 I have also changed to an aluminum water pump I used a new 87 corvett water pump they are aluminum from the factory and only coast like $70 for a new one or $35 for a reman.I also use water weter Hope this helps you.

 

220 is pretty normal, but theres a good article in the tech section if you want to cool it down a bit

 

Ok, first of all! 220 is NOT normal as Mo so kindly mentioned!! Your car may run ok running at 220 but for how long?? If you're wanting to burn up your engine quickly then go with Mo!! LOL!! I have an '86 with TPI and from the moment I bought the car it would overheat...going above 220 A LOT!! I couldn't figure out why....I replaced a lot of items thinking it would help but didn't! One day I was talking to a guy who used to own one of these cars and he said that if the Air Dam (the plastic piece that bolts right underneath the radiator and hangs down under the car) broke off it wouldn't cool properly! See, apparently, since the Firebirds and Camaros don't have a front grill to speak of, these air dams are the only way of getting the air to the radiator to cool it off!! The Air Dam blocks some of the air rushing under the car as you go down the road and forces this air up into the radiator therefore cooling it!! Unfortunately you can't buy an air dam from GM anymore! I went to a junk yard myself and found a truck with an air dam and took it off, cut the ends off the air dam to fit up under my car and bolted it on! After doing so, my car went from running 220 degree and up to running 180 degrees! If you prefer 180 then cool, there you go! Personally I wanted it to run a little cooler! So I bought a 160 degree thermostat and an adjustable fan switch for $20 from the local parts store! With this adjustable switch, I set the fan to come on at whatever temperature I want! After messing with it for a little while I got it adjusted right to where I wanted it and now my car runs right about 165 degrees all the time!! Check the air dam, that's the first step.....it may sound stupid that a little piece of plastic controls the temp of your car because that's what I thought.....but you'll be amazed at the difference in temp if you don't have one on there now and you go get one and put it on there!!

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1986 Trans AM
305 TPI
Completely Stock
Soon to upgrade to a 327 TPI with pocket ported 64CC heads, comp cam, TPI air foil, Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator, possibly bigger injectors!
Current project: Keeping my car running until I get the money for the above mentioned project! :-)

[This message has been edited by 86TpiTransAm (edited January 13, 2001).]

 

Sorry to bust your bubble 86TpiTransAm but 220 is pretty much the normal operating temperature. Factory thermostat is 195 and the fans don't come on until 220 for the primary and 238 for the auxiliary. GM did this to cut down on the emissions. A hot motor produces less pollutants but it is at the expense of engine life.

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1989 Iroc-Z TPI 350 auto 4-spd Removed MAF screens K & N filters, stock other than that.

 

yes 220 is what the factory sets it at. As far as the air dam goes, it is still available from GM. i just got one for my 89 bird about 6 months ago. To cut one up from s truck just says trailor trash thirdgen, sorry but thats my opinion

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1989 pontiac firebird
bright red exterior(just repainted)
grey interior
5 spd
305 TBI (stock)
WS.6 formula wheels
3.73 posi rear end
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/Mikey89.html
-------------------------
1985 trans am
factory bright yellow
4 wheel disks
16 inch wheels
305 TPI
power antenna and mirrors
t tops

 

Yep, your car is running "normal" as GM intended, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing.

Stock stat is 195° Fan on at 228°.

Yes this is too hot. GM did this as a cost effective way to reduce emissions by burning off excess gases.

Follow this sequence as your budget will allow:
1. Check for airdam under car (must have)
2. Install 170° stat (160° as option 2)
3. Install adjustable thermostat switch like Derale or Hayden to lower fan kick on temp.
4. If you have a single fan consider a kit or parts from a Camaro to convert to dual fan.
5. Check for any debris in radiator and clean out any crud.

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<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="red">Red 86 T/A</FONT><FONT SIZE="2"> 5.0 TPI</FONT><FONT SIZE="1"> </FONT><FONT SIZE="2">(LB9/WS6)
~HyperTech Cap/Coil/Rotor/AFPR
~Derale Adjustable Fan Switch ~ 170° Stat
~Flow Matched Injectors ~ K & N Air Filter
~Ported Plenum ~ Pirelli 245/50/16
~SLP TB Airfoil
~All Else Stock</FONT>

<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/mmmm999/3rd-degree/index.html"><FONT SIZE="1" FACE="MS Sans Serif"><IMG SRC="http://www.tribal-treasures.com/cars/post/arc/3rd-logo.jpg" WIDTH="100" HEIGHT="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"></FONT></A>

 

Mike in AZ is correct. GM did this on purpose. You can go to a 180 thermostat, but not any lower! If you put a lower thermostat in it will confuse the ECM,and the motor will not run at its best. You can also recalibrate the Prom to turn the fan(s)on sooner.

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86 IROC T5
MSD 6A
Summit cam
Flowmaster
AFPR
Lowered 1.5"
My own prom (finally)

 

Also...I just bought an airdam from the dealer last week (I buy a new one every other summer)....they have plenty.

M.

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Mike Metzler (Desert86Roc)
Mike@SpeedworldMotorplex.com
[*] Webmaster: SpeedWorldMotorplex.com[*] Click Here For My Racing Page[*]86 IROC 305 TPI (406 build in progress)
ET's @ 1250 ft[*] 14.28 @ 95.461 mph (uncorrected, NOS, no headers)[*] 15.365 @ 86.785 mph (uncorrected, Headers, no NOS)