75 Stingray
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 126
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St. Jude Donor '14
75 Stingray
Can anyone tell me what is the normal water temp on a corvette. I have a 96-00 crate vortec 350 and running around 200 to 205. I have a aluminum radiator and two electric fans which are set to run all the time for now. Is this a normal temp?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
My warmed over L48 stays between 180-200f.I have an aluminum radiator stock mechanical fan.Shroud is in place and so is the lower air dam.Does the lower hose have the spring in there? Also check timing and maybe try full manifold vacuum timing instead of ported.My initial is at 12 deg and with full manifold vacuum it's close to 24deg at idle.I'm running a Crane Billet dist so timing adjustments are simple.Read the posts on timing,careful not to cause pinging at cruise and WOT...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
While I wouldn't worry about 205 if it was stable and didn't rise, mine runs about 195-200 with al rad and stock clutch fan.
Assuming the system is clean and flushed, has no air in it and there are no other issues, a lower tstat would be cheap and easy to try. A least you wouldn't have much investment in eliminating it.
Check for weeping at the pump while your there but it's likely you already have or would at least have noticed already.
Assuming the system is clean and flushed, has no air in it and there are no other issues, a lower tstat would be cheap and easy to try. A least you wouldn't have much investment in eliminating it.
Check for weeping at the pump while your there but it's likely you already have or would at least have noticed already.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
My warmed over L48 stays between 180-200f.I have an aluminum radiator stock mechanical fan.Shroud is in place and so is the lower air dam.Does the lower hose have the spring in there? Also check timing and maybe try full manifold vacuum timing instead of ported.My initial is at 12 deg and with full manifold vacuum it's close to 24deg at idle.I'm running a Crane Billet dist so timing adjustments are simple.Read the posts on timing,careful not to cause pinging at cruise and WOT...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,303
Likes: 4,391
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Rogerl,
I realize you changed the fan, but do you have any sort of shroud around the fans; and are the seals still around the radiator?
They need to be in place so the fans draw the air THROUGH the radiator and not around it. That's what drops the temperature of the engine coolant.
Regards,
Alan
I realize you changed the fan, but do you have any sort of shroud around the fans; and are the seals still around the radiator?
They need to be in place so the fans draw the air THROUGH the radiator and not around it. That's what drops the temperature of the engine coolant.
Regards,
Alan
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 498
Likes: 77
From: DFW Texas
You should be running below 200. I have a crate 330 horse with aluminum radiator and direct drive flex fan. Runs like 180 to 190. As soon as I put the new rad on it, it cooled right down with not very good seal around rad. Replace your thermostat to a 185 if you have not already. What type of fans are you running?
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
I agree with Alan, shrouds, seals and lower air dam. I have a 160 t-stat and it runs 160 all the time except maybe pulling up a long, steep hill on a 95 degree day, then it gets up to 180.
