Ok, I have a 1967 Impala, but the 350 engine is not from it originally, so I thought I would put this in 'General'

I am not a mechanic, I just seem to be the guy they take advantage of and not fix things completely and still bill me triple the quote... anyway.

I got a serpentine set up, all new parts, water pump, 4 core radiator all allumium, electric fan on a thermo switch set to about 170 it seems, a metal shroud, 3 different thermostats and radiator caps.

For the first 10-20 minutes the car is at about 170-180 then once I go on the freeway and go 70, uphill, it temp goes up to 220-240 and never seems to be able to come back down below 220.
After I got it back from the shop for the 5th time, I did not even make it home. 270 degrees in less than a mile. Seriously? WTF?
Anyway, another thermostat later and another cap and I feel like 220-230 it just too hot to run.

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
adam@vigilancefilms.com


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Is coolant level correct in the AM? A defect cap will lose fluid while driving and not be noticable because it expands; then it is sucked back in the engine when it cools. Looks low in the AM. Check that all the water hose have springs in them to prevent collasp when driving. Is engine steaming? Since the 350 is a mod is the thermostat the correct one? Can it open all the way or is it hitting the casting?

 

Hi vigilancefilms,

Welcome to the Chevy Forums.

What about the coolant water/antifreeze mixture ratio? 50/50? 60/40?

 

i had a new water pump installed and it kept overheating same as you went back 4 times they thought they got a defect so they replaced it and when they took it off the idiot didnt take out the inspection tag " INSPECTED BY # 6 " it was still in the inpeller and duh no water flow

 

is it fixed now?

 

Yes that happened a couple of yrs ago

 

yea? a couple years ago on sept 26 2010?

 

Still not fixed.

The fluid level is low every morning. And there is steam when it gets to 240+
not sure about the cap as it is the one that came with the custom radiator, as well as all the houses. The ratio of coolant to water is hard to guess because of the water being low in the mornings and some times I put antifreeze and sometimes straight water.

Shouldn't it run at between 195-205? Maybe a little higher?

 

Steady anywhere between @190 and 220 is considered the norm.

If you're not sure of the Radiator Cap, just replace it. A Stant cap costs @ 5$.

Where is the steam coming from? You need to stop the leak. You're losing pressure, as soon as the system goes to 0 PSI your coolant is going to start to boil. You should get pressurized to about 14PSI.

 

I bought a 396 and had trouble with over heating. When I pulled heads off the water passage in head gasket between block and heads was only 1/8" when the opening in block/head was closer to 3/4". both heads were warped. Don't know if this could be possible?