Good Morning,

1968 L68. Completely stock.

Around what temperature should the radiator and fans keep the car if it's just idling for let's say 10 - 15 minutes?

Is it normal for the temperature to continually creep up until redline if it's just sitting and idling or do I have a problem I need to address?

Thanks,

Garrett

 

If it is all stock I would say there is for sure some issue somewhere that needs addressing. When was the last time you flushed and filled the coolant? That should be done yearly by the way. I always do my cars in the Spring. Recycle the old fluid, back flush with a garden hose and homemade adapters, and then fill with new mixture. Check the fan clutch to make sure it's working properly. When cold it should be relatively difficult to spin. When hot, when you shut off the engine, how long does the fan keep spinning? One or two revolutions is usually right. More than that, and the clutch may be worn out. Also, if you try to 'wiggle' the fan, does the shaft wobble in the clutch? If yes, again, it's bad. Check the lower radiator hose to make sure it's not collapsed or collapsing when the coolant is hot. Verify all of your core support and hood seals are all intact and keeping the air flow moving through the radiator instead of around it. When was the last time you had your timing and mixture checked? Both being off a little can cause a condition where the engine runs hotter. Start with those things because they are easy to check without spending a lot of money on parts or shop labor.

 

thanks.

 

My 69 427/435 sits at 160*, but everything is new.

 

NO that's not good. Sitting still the fan pulls air though the radiator. If it's good while moving I'd suspect the fan clutch.

 

thanks. I'll check it