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Thermostat works and even tried it with the thermostat out. Water pump is correct and works. Timing is set at 10 deg no vac advance per the instructions. Radiator is new champion.
Check that your gauge is correct. A infrared temp tool on the stat housing may be a good check.
A lot of big blocks run hot in corvettes. Big engine, small space. Poor under hood air flow, etc.
Check that most outside air is going through the radiator. Install foam around the edges of the radiator.
Thermostat--check by boiling on your stove.
Timing.
Radiator.
Fan.
GM instructions say 10 deg at idle with no vac advance. Engine has a Mallory dist with vac advance. Engine gets hot just while idling. Elect fan works.
Check that your gauge is correct. A infrared temp tool on the stat housing may be a good check.
A lot of big blocks run hot in corvettes. Big engine, small space. Poor under hood air flow, etc.
Check that most outside air is going through the radiator. Install foam around the edges of the radiator.
Thermostat--check by boiling on your stove.
Timing.
Radiator.
Fan.
I chased a problem like this...it was my new temp. sender was bad...
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by MBrianB
GM instructions say 10 deg at idle with no vac advance. Engine has a Mallory dist with vac advance. Engine gets hot just while idling. Elect fan works.
That timing combo is a quick and damn efficient method of getting an engine to overheat at idle.
You dont have a factory distributor so why would you use factory timing specifications.
What is the part number of the distributor to determine how Mallory has the the timing curve set?
Check the lower radiator hose.
Make sure it has the spring installed and that the hose is not collapsing.
Burp the coolant system and make sure you get out all trapped air in the system.
Hook up the vacuum advance and set the timing.
Retarded timing at idle will cause the combustion chamber temps to skyrocket. That is what the early '70s cars got for EPA requirements....timed/ported vacuum systems that had ZERO vacuum at idle were used to drive the vacuum advance can on the distributor. So....there was NO vacuum advance until the throttle was cracked open. At idle, the retarded timing caused the engine op temps to climb and that burned off any extra hydrocarbons from the spent fuel charge. But, those systems allowed the manifold vacuum to take over if the engine temps got too hot at idle.
If you are mostly using your car for street use, you NEED vacuum advance and it should be driven off of MANIFOLD vacuum. For most stock Chevy V8 engine, initial timing with advance can vacuum hose removed and blocked should be in the area of 12-15 degrees advanced range.
The only other possibilities for running hot at idle are bad/blocked thermostat, some other blockage in the water flow system (I have heard of a shop rag getting into a cooling system!!), or a malfunctioning water pump. Your engine is heating up so quickly, I suspect the bad/blocked thermostat (installed in proper direction?) or a non-functioning water pump.
So far...Thermostat is 160Deg installed correctly, pump is correct reverse rotation for serpentine, bypass is connected, heater is connected, everything is new.
Leaning toward the timing solution.