Running Hot on the Highway Options

[NJ914Guy]

My car is a 1973 914 2.0 running dual Weber 40 carbs, an Aircooled.net SVDA vac advance distributor (vac port connected to dual carbs) and a Pertronix electronic ignition module.

Here in NJ, on a 80-90 degree day, the car runs great on the back roads ranging from 30-45 MPH. Using the dip stick temp gauge, she runs around 180-195 for oil temp. If I take her up ont the highway and run the car at 65-80 MPH for 10-20 minutes, the temp will run up to 220-240, based on the outside air temps, which seems too hot.

I assume that since I am fine on the back roads, my flaps and fan are clear and working fine? I do have 100% of the factory tins in place, and from 180-240 degrees, the car runs strong at all temps.

I am thinking that I have a problem and would like to rule out some things. Here's my list of things to try. Please feel free to comment or make additional suggestions.

1. Change oil. I am running 10W-30 now. Have some fresh Brad Penn 20W-50 on hand. Could an oil change help?
2. Drop the oil screen and check for any sludge or blockage which may be impacting oil flow.
3. Check timing on the SVDA dizzy. I am wondering if it's advancing a little too much on the highway? Per John's instruction, when we installed the dizzy we set timing to: 38-45 Total Advance (hose connected) @ 3500 RPM.
4. Pull spark plugs and check for lean conditions.
5. Check carbs and idle jets. Not sure what's in there, but I hear that I want idle jets of 50.

[ChrisFoley]

And I talk with my dad a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
He's a PhD aerospace engineer and has more than 60 years experience flying small planes with aircooled engines. He tends to maintain a larger safety margin than I do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ape914]

And I talk with my dad a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
He's a PhD aerospace engineer and has more than 60 years experience flying small planes with aircooled engines. He tends to maintain a larger safety margin than I do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I talked to my Dad last night.
Aerospace engineeer, not a pilot, but he works on stuff that goes a lot higher (past edge of solar system) He has had plenty of experience as a test enginner for all sorts of fixxed wing and rotor craft. He does car stuff to on the side, including thermal testing of components for Telsa cars. Oh and he has been an aircooled motor mechanic since 1958 as a hobby.

Your Dad and my Dad have a lot in common, maybe yours can take my Dad flying sometime.

Oh this is so warm and fuzzy, feels like family.

[ChrisFoley]

...
Your Dad and my Dad have a lot in common, maybe yours can take my Dad flying sometime.

Oh this is so warm and fuzzy, feels like family.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Just stop by my shop sometime with your Dad.
If my dad's not travelling, there's a good chance he'll be nearby.
He loves to show off his Ryan STA restoration project in the corner of my shop, and his Bonanza is hangared only 15 minutes away.

If you don't live anywhere near Hartford, don't let that stop you.
Elliot Cannon was here from CA, and Mary Shortridge flew in from Kansas with her father and uncle for a visit.

BTW, I'm nowhere near 100 years old. My dad is only 83. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)


What did one firecracker say to the other?
.
.
.
My pop's bigger than your pop!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

But seriously,
If one has adequate instrumentation and knows what to shoot for, lean cruising with carbs or FI is an excellent choice for cool temps combined with great fuel mileage.
Here's a little light reading on the subject: Mixture Management and Cylinder Head Temperatures

[ape914]

...
Your Dad and my Dad have a lot in common, maybe yours can take my Dad flying sometime.

Oh this is so warm and fuzzy, feels like family.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Just stop by my shop sometime with your Dad.
If my dad's not travelling, there's a good chance he'll be nearby.
He loves to show off his Ryan STA restoration project in the corner of my shop, and his Bonanza is hangared only 15 minutes away.

If you don't live anywhere near Hartford, don't let that stop you.
Elliot Cannon was here from CA, and Mary Shortridge flew in from Kansas with her father and uncle for a visit.

BTW, I'm nowhere near 100 years old. My dad is only 83. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)


What did one firecracker say to the other?
.
.
.
My pop's bigger than your pop!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

But seriously,
If one has adequate instrumentation and knows what to shoot for, lean cruising with carbs or FI is an excellent choice for cool temps combined with great fuel mileage.
Here's a little light reading on the subject: Mixture Management and Cylinder Head Temperatures

Chris:
To get the lean burn 16:1 to work do you have to alter the spark advance to work with it in anyway? and do you run a higher comprssion to compensate for the operation at less than peak power? I know these are some of the tricks to lean burn, just wonder what it takes to get it to work on a 914 motor with D-jet?