v8 t-stat, what else should i check Options

[smrz914]

So i took my t-stat out and put 3 1/8" holes in it. Anything i can/should chech while i'm in there?

[smrz914]

[QUOTE]260 is too damn hot! Is this the way it has always run or a recent problem? [/QUOTE]

It's never been that high untill recently. I was always able to keep some controle over it. I was never happy with it's function but it was at least drivable before.

[QUOTE]So you have high operating temp. at idle as well as at highway speed? Just so we are clear on what you call hot........do you see 260F in both situations? If you start car and just let idle, will it reach same high temp. as while on highway?[/QUOTE]

It always gets really hot, unless I have forward motion and i let it idle, i.e. car is HOT and i'm on the freeway and I coast for a little while and then get back on the gas the temp will shoot down to 180-190 and then start climbing again.

[QUOTE]I would move expansion tank to engine bay and mount as high as possible. This will help eliminate air entering system during cool down. The long length of hose to rear trunk and its low mounting position is not the desired setup.[/QUOTE]

The expantion tank is right up against the engine/trunk wall and wouldn't get much higher if it were in the engine compartment. I would say that the bottom of the tank is at about the same level as the bottom of the intake.

I don't think I have any more wall space for it in the engine bay.

[QUOTE]This is not the proper way to purge air from cooling system and may be the root cause of your high operating temps.[/QUOTE]

I will try the procedure when I put the car back together tomorrow.

[QUOTE]Who's water pump are you using? Since you didn't have bleed holes in your thermostat, there is a chance you damaged impeller if rpm exceeded 2-3000 before t/s opened.

(QUOTE) Interesting because my first one from Renegade hit the fan (one of the impeller blades came off so I went to my FLAPS and they found me a replacement out of steel and not aluminum. The pump is a suspect being that the shaft that connects the pully and the impeller might be slipping.

[QUOTE]Hmmmmm.......the first damaged impeller was most likely caused by not having bleed holes in thermostat and running engine above 2-3000 rmp before t/s opened. Since you just drilled holes in your t/s, you may have performed the same damage again to new impeller. Unless you measured your old impeller with the new one, I would question if the clearances (impeller to water pump housing) are the same. If they are not, the water pump will not work as designed. Go after this last since it is the hardest of what I'm asking you to do.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts as well. and i'll check all the hoses tomorrow before I put the t/s housing back in b/c it takes up lots of room.

[QUOTE]I'd still like to see recent pics of your installation as it would be more benefical than a brief description.[/QUOTE]

I need to get a hold of camera and a faster internet connection I only have 56k at my moms place. I'll keep you posted.

Other:

[QUOTE]1. Have you altered the timing lately? [/QUOTE]

No

[QUOTE]2. Changed air/fuel ratio? Both can effect cooling temperature.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I leaned it out one step to what the carb came as (edelbrock 600) I originally riched it out b/c it had no top end, but my actual problem was the the butterflies were not opening all the way. Different story.

[QUOTE]3. Your method of measuring water temperature is not correct. Since water flows from water pump to block, then to heads and then intake, the desired probe location would be intake. Your 260F reading might be higher than what your seeing now.[/QUOTE]

I know it's a future change as soon as I find a good way of measuring the temp at the radiator.

[QUOTE]4. What are you using to measure temperature? I've seen false readings caused by $10 gauges. Does your engine have that \"I'm hot\" smell after a highway run? If you are really running 260F, you should be able to smell it and even hear some weird sounds when engine is shutdown. [/QUOTE]

I can imagine the smell but it's not there or i'm use to it. I'll have to check the gauge accuracy. It's a VDO guage and wasn't cheep.