Motor gets HOT!! help

[nda0602v6]

Just got a 87 Camaro w/ a 305 TPI. I took it for a short drive today and the temp guage (aftermarket guage) went reached 210 and stayed. Then on my way home it went up to 230, by that time I turned it off. How can you tell if the coolent is circulating for sure or if its clogged? The top radiator hose was somewhat swelled up and felt hard as a rock when I squeezed it. Is this normal? After it cooled down a bit I took the radiator cap off and the coolant was close to the top. So I started it up again, with the cap still off, and the coolant started shooting out and turned to foam. Not sure why the motor keeps getting so hot, theres no leaks and I had the fan on the entire time (fan is wired to a toggle switch).

[3.4 slow to go]

1) check & see if water pump leaking from weep hole
2) veridy nothing is blocking air to radiator
2a) have you checked/replaced the thermostat?
2b) how old are radiator hoses? they couold be collapsing and thus not allowing teh coolant to flow
3) take car to radiator shop & have them do a lakdown test on radiator (willverify if it's clogged)
3a) they should also refill your coolant & do it in a way to make sure you have no air pcokets in there.

4) Red Line VSix is having a meeting this saterday either in Dublin or Dayton, you're more than welcome to come on over. please see our forum in teh regional section below.

[nda0602v6]

I'll look into the meeting...thanks

From what I could tell, I didn't see any leaks and I have no idea how old the hoses are, I just bought the car. None of the hoses were kinked. I'm not sure what thermostat is in there or if there's one at all, I haven't done much investigation yet with this car. The guy I bought it from said the engine has been modified.....305 TPI bored 30 over, headers, dual exhaust w/ no cat, 5-speed trans. Also, something was done with the rear end gears too cause it frys the tires in 2nd and 3rd lol either way, 230 seems too hot or is that normal?

[3.4 slow to go]

under stock conditions, the thermo switch will ground @ 220 & stay there until..........170/180????
ut it'll turn itself on until teh preset cooling temp is reached.b

[Jerriko]

230 is too hot. It really could be a number of things but it's hard to say since the motor has been rebuilt. Do you have how many miles are on the motor since the rebuild? Beyond that, my first guess would be that it's air-locked. Does any heat come out of the defroster? Have you checked the coolant level when the car is cold?

[nda0602v6]

The guy said the rebuilt engine has around 40k miles on it (so he says). The heater core and blower motor assembly have all been removed from the car :mad: , the heater hoses are looped together. No I haven't checked the coolant level with the car cold, i'll check in the morning. I have one of those flush kits where you hook up a garden hose, should I try that first?

[Jerriko]

No, that will do nothing but waste time. The problem needs to be discovered before it gets worse. Also, does the overflow container leak?

[nda0602v6]

The over flow container is there but its bone dry and the cap is missing to it. However, the small rubber hose from the radiator to the container is there and connected.

The car needs a lot of attention to say the least. Some of the vacume lines are taped on and theres wiring everywhere (wires used for a jury rigged fan switch and aftermarket guages). I'm going to redo all that but for now I want to make sure the motor doesn't overheat. I went and bought new upper and lower radiator hoses, new thermostat (180*) and couple jugs of coolant. I'm looking on Ebay now for the lower air dam since its missing. Before I replace all the hoses and everything, I'm going to have the radiator pressure tested.

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by nda0602v6:
The over flow container is there but its bone dry and the cap is missing to it. However, the small rubber hose from the radiator to the container is there and connected.

The car needs a lot of attention to say the least. Some of the vacume lines are taped on and theres wiring everywhere (wires used for a jury rigged fan switch and aftermarket guages). I'm going to redo all that but for now I want to make sure the motor doesn't overheat. I went and bought new upper and lower radiator hoses, new thermostat (180*) and couple jugs of coolant. I'm looking on Ebay now for the lower air dam since its missing. Before I replace all the hoses and everything, I'm going to have the radiator pressure tested.

The lower dam is missing. There is your problem. I would say that is the #1 reason why these vehicle overheat. Either they are removed, broken off or bent to the point were they don't deflect air.

[My_Teal_V6]

Since the heater hoses are looped, attach the flush kit to thoses hoses and flush from there.
From that point it will circulate through the entire system.

[Razzer]

Or take it to the dealer and have them do a flush and refil, my dad did mine with there vac/discharge machine. While car is hot and running they put the coolant system on a vac suck it till the hoses collapse then refil the system with the same machine attached. It does it all in about 8 mins or so and best of all there are no air bubbles. Its great