I recently took my 1978 Corvette to a mechanic, turned out to be garbage mechanics who break more things than they fix. He put new ceramic hooker headers on to "solve" an overheating problem, but it gets even hotter now. Also before we took it to the mechanic my entire interior lights were working perfect but as soon as I got it back they don't work AT ALL, I put all new fuses in, but my interior light just wont work, my roof light works but every other light won't. Could use some help.

Thanks, Gary

 

You put headers on to solve a heating problem? OK

 

Hello cartersville.
When you say overheating, do you mean the temp gauge shows the engine overheating or is the cabin getting hot?
If its cabin heat I could see what they were trying to do. If its engine overheating get your car out of there as fast as possible.

Two very diff issues. Let us know which it is.

As for the lights. Check to make sure the headlight switch is rotated and not just dimming the lights. Check the curtsy fuse in the fuse box.

 

Find another mechanic.

 

Disregard that electric issue, and it's the engine getting to hot, It was in the red when I was driving down the interstate yesterday.

 

Please don't go to that mechanic ever again! Seems like more 78's popping up in the ATL!

 

It's very odd that the dome light is working but the kick panel lights aren't. They run off of the same fuse and the same ground, at least on my 81 and I would be willing bet it's the same in the 78. Have you tried pulling the bulbs and inspecting them? Is there a possibility that the mechanic pulled out the bulbs to keep the battery from draining with the doors open and forgot to put them back in?

 

ok, round here when I see red on the interstate it usually has nothing to do with the temperature of the engine.

the cooling system is pretty simple, a radiator to cool the fluid, a thermostat to control the minimum normal operating temp, a pump to push the fluid and a fan to cool the fluid in the radiator and a rad cap to relieve the pressure and let fluid out if it builds up.

I am going to assume the gauge works properly. however if it pegs and the system is not spitting fluid out then it may be the first issue to tackle, so let the engine heat up and see if it really is boiling.

things to check:
make sure the fan is turning when the temp is up to normal.
make sure the thermostat is opening when temp is up to normal
make sure the rad fins are not all squashed
make sure the pump is not weeping, thats a sign its bad.


you can pull the thermostat and see if it still overheats. it should run cool with it out and you can run without it in a pinch but dont leave it out. if it still overheats you have either a bad rad or pump probably provided the cap is good.


edit: make sure you are full of fluid btw... even if you have a little air in the system it should not heat up just sitting there. air will eventually flush itself out but you can drill a small hole in it to help.

also check your timing. timing being off can heat things up.

 

carb adjustment, running too lean??? maybe the engine needs a new coat of paint, fire engine red.

 

Make sure your air deflector under the car is intact, secondly, make sure all the foam insulation around the rad is in place. Sounds like these may be missing if she's getting hot on the highway.