Could a Victor Jr cause cooling problems?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 409
Likes: 13
From: Lavonia Georgia
Could a Victor Jr cause cooling problems?
I just got my engine installed and I'm having some erratic cooling problems. I've 'burped' the system a couple of times. The last time, it idled in the driveway, nose up on the incline with the cap off and never got over 180. shut it off, put the cap on the tank, go around the block and it goes to well over the 210 on the gauge. Hard to tell just how high it's going but it's definitely going high.
Now the config. New Dewitts restoration radiator/spal setup with electronic controller. new Weiand aluminum pump, new 175 high flow t-stat, new modine heater core, new upper hose, new lower hose with spring, new heater hoses.
The one thing I see that may be a culprit is the location of the t-stat housing on the Victor Jr. Since it is a raised deck intake, they decided to also raise the water jacket along with the intake runners and air goes under the t-stat housing area. This makes it quite a bit higher than the stock location. It's also mostly higher than the Harrison coolant tank on the passenger side. Could I be getting air back into the system since the t-stat housing and upper hose are above the level of the coolant in the tank? I don't think it would matter since the air would still be higher than the heads, but something seems to be wacko.
Now the config. New Dewitts restoration radiator/spal setup with electronic controller. new Weiand aluminum pump, new 175 high flow t-stat, new modine heater core, new upper hose, new lower hose with spring, new heater hoses.
The one thing I see that may be a culprit is the location of the t-stat housing on the Victor Jr. Since it is a raised deck intake, they decided to also raise the water jacket along with the intake runners and air goes under the t-stat housing area. This makes it quite a bit higher than the stock location. It's also mostly higher than the Harrison coolant tank on the passenger side. Could I be getting air back into the system since the t-stat housing and upper hose are above the level of the coolant in the tank? I don't think it would matter since the air would still be higher than the heads, but something seems to be wacko.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
I run a Victor Jr on my small block with ZERO heat problems. I have the stock aluminum radiator. There were no problems filling the system whatsoever. I think you have a thermostat problem. I'd swap it out or remove it to see if the problem goes away.
You didn't say if your temp stabilized after getting hotter than you'd like to see. With a 175 thermostat, it is possible you could see your temp overshoot to 220 prior to it opening up. I've found that thermostats can take some time to break in and tend to overshoot the set temp more often when new.
You didn't say if your temp stabilized after getting hotter than you'd like to see. With a 175 thermostat, it is possible you could see your temp overshoot to 220 prior to it opening up. I've found that thermostats can take some time to break in and tend to overshoot the set temp more often when new.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 409
Likes: 13
From: Lavonia Georgia
It was really odd because the temp came up to just above the first hash mark (I like the gauge...100, hash mark, 210, hash mark, 250. Really easy to tell exactly what temp you're seeing. Right!) and the SPAL had come on at low speed. Temp went to just below the 2 in 210 and the fan came on at high speed. The temp climbed up to almost touching the 2 then dipped back down to just above the first hash mark quite quickly so that looked more like a t-stat opening than fan recovery. I then watched it dance right between the hash mark and the 210, never varying more than what I would guess 10 degrees....this is what I interpreted as the 175 t-stat temp.
It did this for 10 minutes or so and I figured everything was good. Then I took it around the block, less than a mile. When I got back and pulled into the driveway, the temp started a fairly quick march past 210 and when it got almost to the second hash mark, I shut it off. I burped it again this morning and so will take her out for a spin again later. While burping it, I get a really strong flow in the tank so there's no doubt the pump is working and the t-stat is opening. A good amount of flow looks to be coming from the small hose from the top right of the rad to the tank.
It did this for 10 minutes or so and I figured everything was good. Then I took it around the block, less than a mile. When I got back and pulled into the driveway, the temp started a fairly quick march past 210 and when it got almost to the second hash mark, I shut it off. I burped it again this morning and so will take her out for a spin again later. While burping it, I get a really strong flow in the tank so there's no doubt the pump is working and the t-stat is opening. A good amount of flow looks to be coming from the small hose from the top right of the rad to the tank.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Why not just pull the thermostat until your problem is solved?? I found mine runs alot cooler without a thermostat. Get rid of it for now. As for the victor junior I ran one on my bigblock without a problem.
Are you sure the fans are adequate???
Are you sure the fans are adequate???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 409
Likes: 13
From: Lavonia Georgia
Hey, Norval, thanks for the input. As for the fan, I spoke with Tom DeWitt when I was doing my order and he told me this 16" high performance dude should handle anything I can throw at it....and I gotta admit, it throws around a lot of wind under the hood!
I burped her good this morning. Ran for a solid 20 minutes in the driveway and it stayed right between the hash and 210. Who knows, maybe this will do it. The way it started jumping in temp last time, I'm still inclined to think I had a bubble. It was just too quick for the entire water reservoir to go up that fast.
I'm taking it to the shop tomorrow morning for a 4 wheel align and getting the headers installed so if it gets hot on me going over there, I'll just have them pop out the t-stat while they've got it and I'll be able to re-test it on the drive home. It's about 15 miles of suburban driving so it should be a pretty good test.
I burped her good this morning. Ran for a solid 20 minutes in the driveway and it stayed right between the hash and 210. Who knows, maybe this will do it. The way it started jumping in temp last time, I'm still inclined to think I had a bubble. It was just too quick for the entire water reservoir to go up that fast.
I'm taking it to the shop tomorrow morning for a 4 wheel align and getting the headers installed so if it gets hot on me going over there, I'll just have them pop out the t-stat while they've got it and I'll be able to re-test it on the drive home. It's about 15 miles of suburban driving so it should be a pretty good test.
