Really hot engine bay
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Really hot engine bay
Just got back from an hour or so drive in my 79 and the engine bay seems to me to be quite hot. I am a new owner so maybe this is normal. Every thing is stock on the car with 57k original miles. Operating temp stays in the normal range. I had noticed a hot spot on the top side of the driver fender about half way down the near the hood. The hood was cool at this point. After about 20-30 minutes sitting in the garage I went out and felt the hood and it was pretty hot. I opened the hood to help wi h cooling. Everything in there is hot. Air cleaner, brake fluid reservoir the bracket holding the alternator and alternator were all so hot I cold not hold my hand on them.
Is it normal for it to be this hot
Is it normal for it to be this hot
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
You cannot keep your hand on anything at or above 140*, so my next question is - how hot is it?. Get one of those infared temp guns, they cost about $20 and they are fun to play with. T
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 128
From: Rhine Georgia
Really hot engine bay
After about 20-30 minutes sitting in the garage
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Probably just me being paranoid being a new owner of an old car
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
A really good reason to use CAI and not an open element intake.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Once you park, your engine and radiator just become GIANT radiant heaters. They are just blocks of hot metal that are beaming heat to everything around it. What you are describing is perfectly normal. Ive got a modified 454 with headers and sidepipes....there are days that I park my car, close the garage door and go inside. When I go back in the garage an hour later, I swear its 15 degrees hotter in there just due to the engine bleeding off heat.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,681
Likes: 3,134
From: Shamong, NJ
Like all cars today, 78 and later Corvettes, were designed to operate at temperatures over 200 degrees. The higher operating temperatures are a result of emission laws, and a need to more cleanly and thoroughly, burn off engine emissions.
Your 79 left St. Louis with a 210 thermostat in it, so that it would run hot. On 80 and later Corvettes, with the factory installed auxiliary electric radiator cooling fan, the fan doesn't even kick on until around 230-240 degrees.
Your 79 left St. Louis with a 210 thermostat in it, so that it would run hot. On 80 and later Corvettes, with the factory installed auxiliary electric radiator cooling fan, the fan doesn't even kick on until around 230-240 degrees.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
normal for a stock 79 . i had one in 1980 and it ran 220 or more , it was black car . with AC running on a 90 degree day you could see the waves of heat rolling across the hood. Everything was super hot, my sneakers felt spungy from the intense floor heat. i was 21 and could take the massive torture.
