I drove my 87 GTA on the highway today for the first time. I had the cruise set at 80mph and I looked down at the gauge and it was 260 so I pulled off to the side of the road right after i saw that popped the hood and it cooled down rather fast. still ran about 200 or 220 after that but I couldn't push 55 60 miles and hour other wise the temp ran right up again. It has a new water pump, new radiator, new 195 thermostat, new antifreeze of couse. any ideas why it would be running this way. timing is at 8, new CTS

 

Is the lower air dam installed? This is the black plastic skirt that runs under the front fascia/bumper cover. Without this, very little air is directed up in to the radiator area. 200 or 220 is probably a little hot, but should be within limits. Do both fans come on? The first fan should come on at about 200 and the second fan starts around 220 - 230.

 

No the lower air dam is missing? any ideas where I could get one. Only one fan comes on are there aftermarket fans that would work better then the stock ones

 

Nothing wrong with the stock fans. If the second fan is not starting, you have to get in to the circuit (relay, etc.). The air dam may still be available from GM. It is a kit. You can also try Ebay, Hawks Third Gen and there is a guy over in the parts for sale section that may be able to help you out. Bottom line, you need to get an air dam installed.

 

I think the fan itself is bad

 

See if you can swap the cables to the fans. Then if the first fan doesnt start, but the second one does, you have a problem in the relay circuit.

 

I was just gonna jump power to the other fan and see if it starts up

 

Here is a link to a new GM air dam kit http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-90...Q5fAccessories You can put power to the fan , but I believe that there is enough slack in the power cables so that you can swap left to right. This way you get to see if the fan control circuits are working. The driver side fan is the primary fan.

 

Both the fans work I jumped power to them. The one that is not turning on is the pass side one.
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thanks for the link

 

That is the secondary fan. I think it also starts with the A/C. There is a relay for that fan. It is located near the radiator on the passenger side. check to make sure you didnt knock the connector loose when you installed the new radiator. Thats the easy part. You now are going to have to get in to the wiring. Do you have any documentation? Shop manual or at least a Haynes? That is going to be an essential tool for fixing this one.