CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: pjbizjak on August 28, 2019, 12:15:32 AM

Title: over heating
Post by: pjbizjak on August 28, 2019, 12:15:32 AM
OK guys any help would be appreciated, my 68 z/28 is over heating just idling in the driveway. It has a 180 degree thermostat, clutch fan, 3 row radiator, basic z/28 trim. Radiator was cleaned checked and flushed out, 15# radiator cap, thermostat changed out.motor is basically stock but bored 40 over and new J&E domed pistons. water pump new and water circulates when thermostat opens up but still overheats and blows hoses off.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: Tinkerr on August 28, 2019, 12:35:14 AM
Does the engine produce any white smoke/steam out of the exhaust? Any water in the oil?It will look the coffee with a lot of cream.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: william on August 28, 2019, 12:38:06 AM
Ensure that you don't have a reverse-rotation water pump.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: bertfam on August 28, 2019, 01:05:40 AM
When you say overheating, what temperature are you talking about and have you verified it with a laser thermometer?

Ed
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: 169INDY on August 28, 2019, 01:27:27 AM
"Calling" the link to the John Z Cooling system article

Someone post a clickable link?

Jim
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: bertfam on August 28, 2019, 01:31:51 AM
Quote
"Calling" the link to the John Z Cooling system article

Someone post a clickable link?

You mean THIS ONE (http://www.camaros.org/pdf/corv_cooling2.pdf)?

Ed
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: WorkinProgress on August 28, 2019, 02:09:09 AM
Are you using the original fan blade, and do you have a fan shroud in place?

                                                      - Warren
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: Charley on August 28, 2019, 12:50:51 PM
If you start it up with the cap off do you ever see the water flowing after it starts warming up ?
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: uscrichter on August 28, 2019, 03:46:14 PM
Is this a fresh rebuild? may have an air pocket in cooling jacket.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: pjbizjak on August 28, 2019, 04:21:56 PM
Original 5 blade fan with shroud,can feel good air flow thru radiator, no white smoke, no water in oil, can see water circulating with cap off, but still gets hot and blows out of the radiator cap hole, fresh rebuild (air pocket?). factory heat gauge only goes up to 1/4 mark on gauge temp degree unkown.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: Mike S on August 28, 2019, 04:34:05 PM
You can use a low cost infrared thermometer sold at Harbor Freight. They work great at measuring temps across a motor as well as exhaust manifolds. Or, a meat type thermometer will work good too. Something like a turkey thermometer you can buy at a dollar store.

Mike
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: bertfam on August 28, 2019, 05:02:24 PM
Blowing hoses off isn't a sign of over heating, but a sign of over pressure. Especially since your temperature gauge is only reading a quarter of the way. Pressure is dictated by the radiator cap, so pull that and see what happens. You may have a defective cap and it's not venting at the correct pressure (15 pounds). Water coming out of the radiator at the cap when the cap is off is normal due to expansion. It "should" stop when the car reaches operating temperature.

However, like I said before, see what temperatures you're getting with the laser thermometer.

Ed
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: uscrichter on August 28, 2019, 05:49:25 PM
A lot of times when a freshly rebuilt engine is fired up it may have air pockets in the high point of the water ports and need purging, and they create steam within the motor which could cause that exact problem, the solution is to make sure the engine is level and may require jacking the rear of the car and with the thermostat removed from the water neck ad water slowly while the water circulates through the motor, I have done this successfully on several occasions, seems to happen more frequently with big blocks.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: Mike S on August 28, 2019, 07:39:00 PM
  I had a reproduction radiator cap I bought from LI Corvettes that kept seeping when my 396 heated up. An infrared thermometer showed the radiator around 180F-190F. I bought another reproduction cap that was advertised to maintain the correct 15PSI and it's been fine since I installed it last year.

Mike
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: TODD on August 28, 2019, 11:59:08 PM
"fresh rebuild" Did you rebuild the heads? tell us a little more about this rebuild. My guess:
Only a bad head gasket or worse a cracked head will pressurize coolant system and not all coolant leaks let water by into oil/exhaust. Need a more information about rebuild?
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: z28z11 on August 29, 2019, 03:22:10 AM
I've had a cracked head do this once upon a time ago - wild swings in temperature on the gauge, luckily found the problem before it really got worse. Had this happen on a late model V6, Impala motor, head gasket gave up the ghost at the edge of one cylinder - just a little bubble in the gasket, but drove me crazy until we pulled the heads off to check 'em.

Good luck, tell us what you discover -

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: pjbizjak on August 30, 2019, 05:52:21 PM
OK guys first off thank you for all your feedback! With a little more basic mechanics I removed the thermostat and lower hose then did a complete flush of radiator and block three times until water stayed clear and ran motor for more than 15 minutes without overheating. installed new thermostat 180* and 15# rad cap. Things seem to be normal now but I'll wait until I take the car on the road to see what happens. Oh, not sure if I have the correct temp sensor, anybody have correct part number?
once again thanks;
Pete
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: pjbizjak on August 30, 2019, 06:00:09 PM
Todd, Yes the heads were redone new valves hardened exhaust seats, seals, springs, guides etc. block was bored to 40 over, crank cut 10/10, new J&E pistons, new bearings rings oil pump and all seals. Cam is comp cam = to original 30/30 duntov, lifters, rockers, push rods etc. Refreshed 780 cfm holley 1111480 distributor set up by Jerry mcNeish.
Title: Re: over heating
Post by: firstgenaddict on September 03, 2019, 02:42:30 AM
When the car is at operating temp and you cut it off... what does the fan do?
Does it stop almost immediately?
Does it continue to spin?
A PROPER FUNCTIONING FAN CLUTCH WILL NEARLY STOP THE FAN IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE ENGINE IS KILLED (less than a single rotation) if it continues to spin it is not drawing enough air, I thought mine was ok until it was rebuilt... it's like a tornado now!