Running hot
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
Running hot
My 90 was running hot. It was so well cared for I never expected to find the radiator 60% plugged with crap. Somebody on here said the shroud was held on with a bunch of 10mm bolts. NOT! There were 4 13mm bolts, a dozen or so 10 mm bolts, 6 7mm bolts that must have been installed before the front body work was put on.
Anyway it took an hour to get the shroud off and boy it was plugged up. It was over 1/4" thick of hair, fuzz, dirt and other undescribable things but no leaves. eewww! Surprising that the a/c condenser was clean as a whistle.
All better now. I found on the right side of the shroud there's a sizable hole to look in. I don't know why I didn't look in there before. The PO paid the former chevy dealer $750 for a new water pump and thermostat(now a Toyota dealer). Probably because it was running hot. Ha Ha. When I first looked in the hole all the crap kinda looked like a black trash bag. I was shocked at how much of the radiator was plugged up and yet it ran hot but never overheated.
Lesson learned. Look at that first when buying a used Corvette. It must have been a full 22 years of build up. One of the POs must have had a very hairy dog that lived in the garage.
Anyway it took an hour to get the shroud off and boy it was plugged up. It was over 1/4" thick of hair, fuzz, dirt and other undescribable things but no leaves. eewww! Surprising that the a/c condenser was clean as a whistle.
All better now. I found on the right side of the shroud there's a sizable hole to look in. I don't know why I didn't look in there before. The PO paid the former chevy dealer $750 for a new water pump and thermostat(now a Toyota dealer). Probably because it was running hot. Ha Ha. When I first looked in the hole all the crap kinda looked like a black trash bag. I was shocked at how much of the radiator was plugged up and yet it ran hot but never overheated.
Lesson learned. Look at that first when buying a used Corvette. It must have been a full 22 years of build up. One of the POs must have had a very hairy dog that lived in the garage.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 1,218
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Good advice. Our cars are "bottom breathers" and they can sure vacuum up a lot of crap. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Ridgecrest Ca
In the final analysis the heat problem is cured. Yesterday I took it to work. One the way home the ambient temp was 105. Got in traffic (as much as can be here Ha Ha), stopped at 4 lights, ran an errand and shut it off so it could heat soak for 5 minutes, restarted stopped at one light and two stop signs. The gage never went above half way. I'm guessing on the scale of 100-260 that half way is ~200 maybe a sckosh less. Got in the garage and the fan was NOT running so definately lower than 228. It had to have been 240 before I cleaned the radiator. I love it when things turn out better after I've worked on it.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 1,218
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
NEWBIE Question,
So my dad has an 87 L98 and it is also overheating, the mechanic told him it was his greenwood front end that was causing the problem and took it off. I know his mechanice replaced some parts but not exactly what. I know the fluid was changed for sure. the thing is it only heats up when stopped at a light, when you start driving the temp goes down. He also installed an external fan that you switch on yourself when the temp gets too high.
so the newbie question is where exactly do i look for crude in the radiator area? any specificis will help, and again sorry for the newb question and what do you guys think is the problem.
So my dad has an 87 L98 and it is also overheating, the mechanic told him it was his greenwood front end that was causing the problem and took it off. I know his mechanice replaced some parts but not exactly what. I know the fluid was changed for sure. the thing is it only heats up when stopped at a light, when you start driving the temp goes down. He also installed an external fan that you switch on yourself when the temp gets too high.
so the newbie question is where exactly do i look for crude in the radiator area? any specificis will help, and again sorry for the newb question and what do you guys think is the problem.
Last edited by mrm4155; Jul 31, 2012 at 12:14 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 12
From: Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee
No-IL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I would start a new thread with your question.
You will be surprised at the number of replies you will receive.
You will be surprised at the number of replies you will receive.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
Thanks, I been doing alot of reading and found out where to look. i will try that or have my dad look. im pretty mechanically inclined and will look into some of the options people have been suggesting. Im putting my money on this dirt being stuck in there.
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