Overheating is an Understatement
I had a hard time explaining to my employees that moving water quickly does not allow it to pick up the heat. The best I can explain it is, steam builds on the metal surfaces and insulates the water. I demonstrated this by floating a quart of water on top of molten lead (700F) it took over 5 minutes to evaporate and it did not boil.Fast moving coolant (or turbulent) might prevent the steam pockets from forming, no?

Gerry
Things I saw pump related that caused overheat issues.
1. Pump with impeller that did not have enough interference fit on the shaft, the belt turned the WP pulley but did not turn the impeller inside. NO Flow.
2. Pump with reverse rotation impeller installed by mistake No Flow
3. Pump with OEM Design that required a Positive displacement plate on the impeller sold without the positive displacement plate installed causing low flow overheat issues.
Heavy Duty engine Water Pumps usually had a Positive displacement pump, these did not pump more water but pumped with more pressure so they could maintain flow in high heat environments. Like a 327 in a Dump Truck pulling a hill that takes several minutes at wide open throttle, these work engines expose the block to more heat for extended periods and positive displacement pumps worked, change that engine to an automotive water pump and they would burn up the engine doing the same work.
5. Most automotive pumps use a simple paddle wheel impeller, it slaps at the coolant as it rotates keeping it flowing, in low demand applications this works fine.
Some aftermarket companies add a disc to the back of the impeller making it function more like a positive displacement pump without adding the extra weight and mass of a true heavy duty pump. These actually improve flow considerably, not faster flow but positive displacement flow so the pressure stays more uniform cold or very hot and this helps.
Water Pump sales in the late 90's were all exiting the USA and moving to China and we chose to exit the business in the late 90's so all this info is old but may still apply.
Let us know what you finally find.
First, the Block Engine Test came back negative (Image 1), so that's a relief. Ran the motor up to 190 deg so the thermostat was open and flowing. Checked fluid levels and then temps in the rad hoses to verify circulation. Set the tester in place of the rad cap and pumped the bulb for a minute. Glad to see it remained blue.
Second, I replaced the vacuum advance mechanism (Image 2). It matches the one spec'd out in one of Lars' articles and was the recommended replacement from Napa as well. After getting everything back together I still have no vacuum advance on my timing. 34 total and 16 at idle regardless of whether the vacuum is attched or not. The arm on the advance seems to take a significant amount of suction to move. I tried testing it with my mouth (as one YouTube vid demonstrated. guess I don't have 16-18 in. Hg in me. Insert joke here) and it wouldn't budge. It makes me question if the vacuum from the carb (Image 3) has enough to move it. More questions.
This weekend I plan to replace the water pump with a cheap unit (if there is one in town) to see if the current one is the issue. I'll also go through the rad with the I.R. gun to map out the temp differential across it.
Thanks again for all the great input.
Image 1: Block Test Results

Image 2: Vacuum Advance Mechanism

Image 3: Vacuum line from carb to advance






Dennis
try it...; if that doesn't move it there is something wrong with your distributorBill
Last edited by wmf62; Jul 11, 2013 at 10:04 AM.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
You might have a stuck or jamming breaker points plate in the Dist.
As a side note, make sure someone hasn't stuck a ball bearing inside the hose to block vacuum from going to the can.
Last edited by MikeM; Jul 11, 2013 at 10:45 AM.
Mike T.
Mike T.
Seems that while the original 2818-1 carbs were full vacuum ports the later service replacement units were changed to ported vacuum.
If true could explain why there is no vacuum at idle.
Mike T.
This car NEVER ran over 180 degrees while I owned it.



















