GT2Race

My 84 C4 L83 xxx Fire seems to be in heat
I need help here
I changed to a 3 Row aluminum radiator and added 2 - 10 inch electric fans on a direct switch
thinking I solved the over heating problem
A big fat no go ... still over heats
I changed the water pump thinking that must be it
another big fat no go ... still over heats
here are some details
it creeps to overheating " only at Idle " or traffic situations
I sit there at a light and simple watch it creep up at approx 1 degree every few seconds ... what the heck
right on up to 240 in a heart beat or two

I cannot even think about using my 1200 dollar A/C unit ...
I do live here in So Cal , so temps are a bit high .. but I just dont get it
could it be that the fans that came with the 3 row rad are insufficient or could it be that they gave me a wrong rotation water pump
I know that My 84 cross fired C4 should be a reversed rotation
I cannot ID the water pump number since I had it polished and the number is now gone
it should be the right one though

does the fact that the temp creeps upward at idle say anything to any of you guys
looking for any advise here ...
feel like Im being brabecued .. stick a fork in me Im done ... Hah
advise is so needed
thanks
Lawrence

JrRifleCoach

You didnt mention replacing the t-stat.
Obviously the fans have been op checked

crowz

Thermostat like mentioned could be the problem.

GT2Race

forgot to mentioned
tried a 160 plus a hot thermostat .. No difference

GT2Race

yepper changed to a low temp and high temp thermostat and it was of no help .. a no go
do you think that my extensive heat problem seems like a n " not enough cool air pulled through the radiator or it's a not enough flow pulled by the water pump problem
..

JrRifleCoach

Possible that those two fans are not enough?
Are you using a shroud with the fans?

GT2Race

that would be a negative ... I added no shrouding whatever since the dual fans take up a bit of space on the radiator

I am going to cuta few pieces of cardboard to cover every nook and try that... I will post the difference
as I mentioned .... the overheating happens at log stop lights and slow and heavy traffic .. I will try anything at this point

Fired up
Lawrence

Tom400CFI

Seems like a lack of air flow, to me. Are the fans spinning the right direction?

I'd be scrutinizing the fan system, if it were me.

cv67

wouldnt block all the air off outside the fans either not a good plan. May help at idle but will work against you at higher speeds btdt

What fans do you have?

FASTAZU

Have you flushed the cooling system? could be blocked passages in the block. You need to check the block temp compared to the radiator temp.

Tom400CFI

I would check that^ too, BUT, it's not likely a water flow problem, if there is no heating issue underway. If the issue is only at idle/stopped, it's most likely an air flow issue (fans).

tbirdsps

240 is not overheating. My 90 (also in hot desert california) will go hot in a very short time idling or rolling very slow in traffic but the fans kick on and the temps never get above 240. Once I start going above 20mph it cools right back down. You should get concerned if the temps gets 260+ verify with the digital reading on the dash vs the analog gage.

GT2Race

I have to admit that ever since I blew out a head gasket ... eek
I am a bit sensitive to those over 220 and above temp hits

I added another head temp analog style gauge
I get double confirmation .. a good thing ...
I cannot imagine a 260 hit

Tom400CFI

I once overheated a SBC so badly that is seized up. After it cooled (and I refilled w/coolant) it started and ran fine. Sold it w/200k on it!

crowz

The previous owner of my formula firebird overheated it with it idling to the point it quit.

This is what it did to it.

Also what damage you see doesn't show the damage inside the heads.

Cruisinfanatic

what is temp on the road?

GT2Race

highway and average temp is 185 ...

GT2Race

these fans are about 10-11 inches ( 2 )
I got them with the new 3-Row aluminum Radiator from E-Blay
as a package
who knows what the CFM is ... tried to get that info from the manufacturer .. no spreek dum Englaze
no CFM info but they are new and on a direct on/off switch on my dash
since the fans take up most of this side of the rad .. I did not block the rest off at this point
as I mentioned .. the temp creeps up all by itself at Idle speeds and heavy traffic ... from 185 to 240 in 15 mins
does this seem like a slow flow problem or more like a fan sucking not enough cool air over the 3 row rad ...

GT2Race

yeah ... runs a nice 185 on the average road ...

as far as the cooling system go's

I changed heads when I did the top end to a set of steely 882 ones
I checked the match up on the heads water ports and they all match up

I tried the " water Wetter " additive .. hah hah . a no go !

I do not run any coolant since I planned on running a few track days and drag nights ... coolant is a no no as you know

cv67

Forget that water wetter stuff put some coolant, 50/50 70/30 whatever, you can run coolant unless you got leaks unless the rules have changed recently.Just my .02 opinions will vary