94 corvette LT1 repair or replace questions
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 34
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From: mass.
94 corvette LT1 repair or replace questions
I have a 94 corvette that I bought last year with 180k miles on it. It was not running when I bought it and posted here to learn about it. It runs hot without the fans running and seems to steam out the exhaust for a while.With the fans running all the time it runs about 205 degrees. I drove it last season about 5k miles this way with climate control on auto so the fans would run constantly. I think maybe the head gaskets are bad or something (alot of steaming out exhaust the while warming up). I am thinking about trying to put head gaskets in it but don't know how difficult this is to do in the car? Would I be better off to just pull the engine out? I have alot of experince with the older vettes, I have done pretty much everything myself on my 64 vette, but the newer technology is "new" to me. How much time am I looking at to do the head gaskets myself? What have people paid to have a good rebuild done on one of these motors.
I should have mentioned that I already installed a new radiator due to a cracked tank. I installed a new coolant temp sensor in the water pump and passenger side cylinder head. What is the best way to tell if I have a bad head gasket?
Thanks, Bill
I should have mentioned that I already installed a new radiator due to a cracked tank. I installed a new coolant temp sensor in the water pump and passenger side cylinder head. What is the best way to tell if I have a bad head gasket?
Thanks, Bill
Last edited by fueler; Jan 25, 2008 at 08:49 PM. Reason: additional info
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
My guess is that from sitting, condensation is forming in the exhaust and you're seeing it burn off when you start it.
Given the mileage, I bet a good cleaning of the radiator stack will solve your temp problems.
Given the mileage, I bet a good cleaning of the radiator stack will solve your temp problems.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 549
Likes: 13
From: Richmond VA
Having just cleaned the radiator on my 94 (45K) I would say to look at that first. About the only way I know to do a good job cleaning it is to pull the radiator. Mine was starting to run a little "warm" 210 in traffic with a 160 stat but would cool down as soon as I got going in clean air. I knew I needed to clean the radiator but was surprised by the amount of crap in it that could not be seen without pulling it.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
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From: Phoenix Arizona
If you are worried about the head gaskets, take it into a raditor shop for an exhaust gas test. There's no real difference between a head job on a 64 or 94.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
After buying and installing a new radiator, your car still has the same overheating problem, so you go to a mechanic for help. He starts out with a cooling-system pressure test, which shows there are no leaks. Next he does a combustion-leak test to make sure there are no internal leaks that might allow exhaust gas to bubble into the cooling system. He draws air from the radiator through a blue test liquid. Any trace of combustion gas would make the liquid turn yellow. You engine passes the test.
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