I have a 64 327/365 stock engine. What is the temperature that I should be running when the car if fully warmed up and the outdoor temp is around 75-80 degrees? I am usually running 180 - 200 degrees. I was driving yesterday in town and the temp read 215 degrees, which is the highest I have ever seen it. Today I purchased a laser temp gauge and would also like to know where is the best place to check the engine temp with it? Radiator, radiator hose ect? I appreciate the insight. Thanks!

 

I have the same car as yours, same color also. I bought it last Sep. I live in Maine I was surprise to see it running at 180 and sometimes less The car came from Texas and the owner said it always ran cool It does have a 7 blade fan on it

 

Best place is the water thermostat housing, if it is not glossy (shine/gloss reflect the infared and give false readings). Rubber ( as in the hoses) has some insulating properties. so I would expect them not to give the correct reading. The intake (at the water crossover area between the 2 heads) next to the thermostat housing would be my 2nd selection.

The radiator can give you valuable info, but understand that it's job is heat transfer, so it should read lower than actual engine coolant temp.
By checking at various locations on the radiator, you can see how well it is transferring the heat. And maybe see where areas of the radiator are perhaps clogged). In other words, closest to the top hose should read the warmest, and closest to the bottom hose the coldest.

What rating is your thermostat? Note that the thermostat rating is in effect the lowest temp you should see, once the engine has reached operating temp (since that is the point at which the thermostat opens). For a 75-80 degree day, I would expect seeing engine temps pretty close to the thermostat rating to maybe 10-15 degrees warmer. I would not expect to see 215, if the thermostat is rated at 180.

Good luck,
Plasticman

 

I had a heat problem and feel I have resolved it. My situation may be a little different then yours, as I have an electric fan. I was not getting the air movement needed to help cool. After reading some posts and getting a lot of advice I found a weakness that I corrected by closing off the opening between the core support and the radiator. I put my hand above the two and could not believe the volume of air escaping from the opening. I packed the opening with some foam material, [will replace] and now get a reading with an IR gun of 200 on a 90 - 100 + degree day, and gauge reads the same. Stop and go in the desert, with the air on, is a good test. It seems that some later models including big blocks offered seals to be used in this area.
Just an idea you might try. Let us know if this helps.

Dennis