84 corvette and cooling temp !!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 13
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From: Harlingen Texas
84 corvette and cooling temp !!
my 84 corvette has blown two tanks and heats up !in traffic. The gentleman at the radiatoer shop said that the radiator is to small for a v8 and that some v6s have bigger radiators than my vette ! what can i do to cool it off or should i get a bigger rad ?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,141
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (GOBABYGO84)
i'm not exactly sure the 84 is the same way, but you can put a 160 tstat in and have a chip made to turn the fans on earlier, this usually will cool it down a good bit.
Other than that, you can buy a BeCool radiator
Other than that, you can buy a BeCool radiator
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC USA
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (GOBABYGO84)
I've never had an overheating problem with my 84 and I doubt that the radiator is too small. What measures have you taken to "fix" your problem? Has the radiator been out of your car? The C4 is a bottom breather and it tends to inhale all sorts of garbage from the road that lodges just ahead of the radiator. This ends up restricting the airflow though the radiator and can cause serious overheating.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
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From: Ideaology is a straight jacket for the mind
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (Black84)
I've never had an overheating problem with my 84 and I doubt that the radiator is too small. What measures have you taken to "fix" your problem? Has the radiator been out of your car? The C4 is a bottom breather and it tends to inhale all sorts of garbage from the road that lodges just ahead of the radiator. This ends up restricting the airflow though the radiator and can cause serious overheating.
I've never heard of a problem with the radiator being too small :crazy:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 303
From: Timra, Sweden
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (vader86)
The radiator fan is not controlled by the chip on the 84.
You only have to change the coolant temp switch on the passenger side head between the two rear spark plugs to turn the fan on sooner.
You only have to change the coolant temp switch on the passenger side head between the two rear spark plugs to turn the fan on sooner.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley ca
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (GOBABYGO84)
The radiator (if stock) is not too small. When I bought mine it was heating up to about 230 - 235 with the stock fan switch. So I changed out the switch with one form a pontiac trans am and now it runs about 205 - 212.
joe
joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,808
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Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (No Ordinary 91)
My '84 never runs hot either. You may need to clean the area between the radiator and a/c condensor as mentioned above. I had leaves and all kinds of trash in mine.
I haved wired my fan also to run as soon as i crank the car. As far as the radiator being to small, that is a first for me to hear also.
I haved wired my fan also to run as soon as i crank the car. As far as the radiator being to small, that is a first for me to hear also.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 199
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From: Austin TX
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (greg84)
Got to love the Texas heat! My 84 had the same problem, change the coolant temp switch to a 185 or 195, go with a lower thermostat 160 or 185 and check for the usual suspects; air-blocking debris, leaking overflow tubing, air in the system. Got to love the Texas heat! :cheers:
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 38
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (GOBABYGO84)
The only problem I've had with my '84 was a loose hose clamp that was allowing coolant to leak out. Once I fixed that prob, it hits 230, the fan clicks on, and it goes back down, regular as clockwork. If everything in the stock system is copastetic, you should'nt have any problems.
That being said, I'm adding a lower temp switch (I forget what the degree is, but I think its 180) and a Z51 auxiliary "pusher" fan...it gets up to 100 plus around here, after all.
That being said, I'm adding a lower temp switch (I forget what the degree is, but I think its 180) and a Z51 auxiliary "pusher" fan...it gets up to 100 plus around here, after all.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: 84 corvette and cooling temp !! (GOBABYGO84)
. The gentleman at the radiatoer shop said that the radiator is to small for a v8 and that some v6s have bigger radiators than my vette ! what can i do to cool it off or should i get a bigger rad ?
If your rad is clear inside and out, your pressure cap is working, your water pump is working, your fan is working, and you have it full of coolant (50/50 antifreeze and water) and you don't have a stuck thermostat or a blown hose, yours should cool the same. Keep looking for both the problem and a new radiator man.
