Chevelle running hot

[70SS454]

I ordered and received a new Hayden fan clutch and 180 degree thermostat. Should fix it. Ill install it when I get a break from work. Thanks for the help!

[jpekarek]

A couple of people have mentioned timing. That is extremely important to engine temp. More than people think.

[70SS454]

Timing was dead on. Replaced fan clutch and thermostat.mall hoses are fairly new and are not collapsed. Motor still runs 200-210*. It's still gets warmer at a light...230-235*. That new Hayden fan clutch is pretty dang loud. I don't like it

[fleming23]

I just glanced at the thread but it seems from reading that you are only having issues at low speed/idle?

If so, please take the time to read through my thread and all the different things I tried to get my car to run cool at idle. It was great at cruise but as soon as I would stop for more than 5 minutes it would start creeping up.

There are a lot of tips in my thread and an eventual fix for my situation. Not sure if yours will be the same but there are likely to be things you can try if you have not already.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...474&highlight=

If you can spend the $40 to try the same fan I did, it might be worth your time. I took the car out yesterday and with my new gauge I could watch the water temps fluctuate from 160 to 164 and back.

[Hank70SS]

Originally Posted by 70SS454

Timing was dead on. Replaced fan clutch and thermostat.mall hoses are fairly new and are not collapsed. Motor still runs 200-210*. It's still gets warmer at a light...230-235*. That new Hayden fan clutch is pretty dang loud. I don't like it

What exactly is dead on for the timing? The old GM specs, which really weren't advanced enough?

[70SS454]

Hank,
My buddy checked it for me, he is a big Chevy big block guy. We followed your thread advice. The timing was already set at 16 if I remember correctly.

Fleming23, I will have to look through your thread.
Dan

[70SS454]

Could my water pump be not working well enough?

[70SS454]

Drove the chevelle yesterday...50* day and car stayed at 210* all day.

[Hank70SS]

Originally Posted by 70SS454

Could my water pump be not working well enough?

Could be, how about the radiator? Does it look like it's 40 years old, could be plugged and lot allowing good coolant flow.

You said you don't like the Hayden clutch because it's so noisy. You didn't get a severe duty clutch did you? They are noisy and all you should need is the heavy duty.

Try making the idle mixture a little richer. Turn the adjustment screws counter clockwise at least 1/2 turn, see if the idle temp stays closer to driving temp.

Also, are you sure your temp gauge is accurate? Does your buddy have an infrared thermometer to check the engine temp.

[70SS454]

Radiator is not original and I had it checked out. The shop said it was good to go.
The Hayden clutch that I installed was the one that was suggested (heavy duty). It sounds like it is even on on the highway on a cool day. I hear it over the motor. I don't think it ever kicks off. I need to idle the motor from cold to warm on the drive and pay specific attention to it.
The mixture is already pretty rich. You can smell the richness in the exhaust. I also had the mixture looked at by a local hot rod shop and they said its where it should be.
I am not sure if the gauge is correct. I will look into the infra red thermometer. What part of the engine do you shoot it at? I drove it again yesterday. Outside air temp was 60*. When I was moving, temp sat at 210*. After idling for a min or so, it still jumps to 230 and then drops as soon as the car moves.
Ya know, that just made me think....at night, at idle my lights are dimmer than if the rpm's come up slightly. I wonder if that voltage drop at idle could be affecting the temp gauge? Causing the reading to change at idle. I think that's prob not it but I still wonder.