overheated about overheating

iglou · 03-13-07, 06:04 PM

hello fellas.

i'm at my wits end. i've read all the threads on overheating. i think i've done everything that i can to prevent the overheating prob. on friday i take my outfit to the dealership to get the timing adjusted. the radiator is about 2 years old. but i don't think that's it.

whether idling or driving, the truck gets a little over 3/4 white on the temp gauge. i think that's too hot. i'm thinking that the dealership is gonna say, "well mr. iglou, the reason your truck is running hot is b/c the smog stuff is gone." are there any cruiserheads out there who's rig is de-smogged and doesn't overheat? here are pics of the carbon canister (with things capped), carburator (with things capped) and distributor (with things capped). pls let me know if you see anything that looks like its connected wrong. i just suspect the overheating is either due to a misconnection or maybe i do need the egr system back... or something. if need be, i can take more pics or email hi-rez jpegs. thx for ya'lls help in advance!

lathrop · 03-13-07, 06:29 PM

Check your engine temp. With a thermometer. The problem may or may not exist in reality. or more precisely. it could be an inaccurate read on the gauge.

ssgoods · 03-13-07, 06:29 PM

That is about where mine runs, also de-smogged. Is that really supposed to be the reason why? It seems like that should not make too big of a difference.

ellington12 · 03-13-07, 07:57 PM

i agree with lathrop...get a thermometer and verify how hot you're really running. desmogging shouldn't really have an effect on how hot or cold your engine runs. timing however, can affect your temp.

you've probably checked these already but if not:
fan clutch engaging?
fully operational thermostat.
correct PSI rad. cap.
fan installed the correct way.

this last item may seem silly but i've seen it before at work. guy comes in after replacing fan clutch and H20 pump; car runs hot. found that he installed the fan onto the clutch backwards so that the fan was blowing air the wrong way. at a certain speed the ram air coming from the front of the radiator was cancelled out by the wrong way fan pushing against it.

Brycruiser · 03-13-07, 08:09 PM

I went through my entire cooling system and mine still ran hot. Put in a new fan clutch and now I have to put card board in the radiator on really cold days.It's got to be the thermo or the clutch.BT

loeky · 03-14-07, 12:10 AM

i ended up replacing fan clutch, thermostat, water pump, radiator... etc.

for my truck, it was a cracked head that was letting in coolant and causing it to run hot. it had probably done it due to the other parts breaking down before my ownership, but i had the wonderful opportunity to pay for the fix.. h0h0!

i would install a manual temp gauge. this is what finally tipped me off that something was amiss after all the new system parts were in place. it still ran real hot all the time.

now, it almost doesn't get hot enough and have to make sure the thermostat gaskets are in properly as it rarely gets the needle to raise.

good luck!

REKCUT · 03-14-07, 11:11 AM

You need to install mechanical temp guage. $30 and you can find out if you really have a problem.

Mace · 03-14-07, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REKCUT

You need to install mechanical temp guage. $30 and you can find out if you really have a problem.

Yep, the stock gauges are more general indicators..

Get a real gauge installed and see what the temp really is.

2F's don't overheat unless something is really wrong..

iglou · 03-14-07, 01:22 PM

great input! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

haven't tried the mechanical gauge yet. i'll try that next. guy at napa told me that all he had were 2" gauges w/ american threads & that it wouldn't fit my truck. so gotta find the gauges elsewhere. otherwise...

• fan clutch engaging? - it's blowing cold (got it from napa. maybe should go oem?)
• fully operational thermostat? - new t-stat complete w/ gasket
• correct PSI rad. cap.? - new 13 psi rad. cap. (bought from napa too. maybe is should get an oem cap??)
• fan installed the correct way? - fan installed correctly
• water pump is 3 year old
• radiator is 2 yrs old & clean
•*newly rebuilt head, new head gaskets
• newly rebuilt carb (hopefully all lines are connected correctly. it's hard to tell from diagrams b/c my outfit doesn't have the metal spaghetti. i dunno if connections all stay the same when de-smog, vacuum lines, valves, etc have been removed)

i didn't realize how small the pics i attached on my first post would be.
here are the links for bigger pics of the engine. lemme know if any of you see any wrong connections. thx!
www.glenwoodarts.org/z_loucrap/view01.jpg
www.glenwoodarts.org/z_loucrap/view02.jpg
www.glenwoodarts.org/z_loucrap/view03.jpg

Mace · 03-14-07, 01:26 PM

Thermostat installed the right way?

Fan clutch is not the one inside the cab. But the one attatched to your water pump

Get a real gauge.

Napa guy has no idea what he is talking about. Almost all aftermarket gauges are in the 2"ish size. either electric or mechanical (I prefer mechanical but..) get one and install it

ranger · 03-14-07, 01:53 PM

The temp gauge has a standard thread bung, but the gauge package includes adapters for many applications. Good parts folks are hard to come by.........
The fan clutch everyone is refering to is attached to the radiator fan. WHen your engine is cold it should free wheel without alot of resistance. Once the engine is hot it should be hard to turn by hand............Don't try to grab it when the engine is running.....

REKCUT · 03-14-07, 02:41 PM

Ditto on the napa guys IQ. Equus guages will fit and have the correct adapter. So will the higher dollar guages. You dont need monster sized monitors. 2 inch is fine.

iglou · 03-14-07, 04:26 PM

i'll try to grab a gauge today. as far as the links to my engine pics, anyone see a problem?