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David & the Giant Peach AKA Chiquita
- Thread starter 72blazer
- Start date
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
I’ve let it run without a cap until warm. 15-20 minutes. I’ll give this a try again.
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Inlet about 170 and outlet about 145 if I remember correctly once warmed up but not checked after being driven around. The water pump and thermostat have not been checked yet.
Levigarrett76
Zeus of the Sluice
something is off for sure, def check the basics
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
But I think the gauge is reading right. Seems the temperatures in all the different areas are within normal limits when I zap them. No signs of it overheating either.
Levigarrett76
Zeus of the Sluice
It seems based off temp drop radiator is flowing, can you see coolant moving in top of tank with truck running warmed UP?
It sounds like air bubble but im not small block chevy guy so dont remember where coolant temp sensor is located
It sounds like air bubble but im not small block chevy guy so dont remember where coolant temp sensor is located
Driver side head.
CUSTOM DELUXE
Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2023
- Member Number
- 6273
- Messages
- 7
Is it just the drivers side bank / head heating up? Try shooting the temp gun on the pass side head in the same spot.
I would start with the thermostat cheapest and easiest to replace, maybe put a 180 in there. If it sat for a while the thermostat could be corroded shut or just not working.
I would start with the thermostat cheapest and easiest to replace, maybe put a 180 in there. If it sat for a while the thermostat could be corroded shut or just not working.
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Well added the transmission cooler. Apparently the tranny was hating life and wasn’t being cooled which then was causing excessive heat running thru the radiator. Cruised it around a good portion of my Sunday routine. Temperature never crossed over into the red 
It would float around 210 then I could see when the thermostat would kick in and would drop the temp to The mid range of gauge. I cruised around in 98* in lots of stop and go. Next step, still going to flush the radiator, replace the thermostat for a 180 unit and replace the water pump. But definitely happy I could finally maintain the temp. Going to finish addressing the cooling system then move on to the suspension/ shocks. Definitely drives like Ace Ventura.
It would float around 210 then I could see when the thermostat would kick in and would drop the temp to The mid range of gauge. I cruised around in 98* in lots of stop and go. Next step, still going to flush the radiator, replace the thermostat for a 180 unit and replace the water pump. But definitely happy I could finally maintain the temp. Going to finish addressing the cooling system then move on to the suspension/ shocks. Definitely drives like Ace Ventura. Torque converter may have too much stall and is not locking up causing too much heat.
Levigarrett76
Zeus of the Sluice
man i love the sound of boggers
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Possibly. But this is the way the truck came and previous owner didn’t have much info on the motor build so doubt he’d know anything about the tranny. I’ll keep plugging away.
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
I tried to figure out how to check the stall, the easiest way (not sure about correct) is to see what the rpm drop is when the truck shifts. As I understand it, the drop is the stall rating.
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Progress ongoing. I think I’ve made some headway. Replaced the water pump, thermostat, and radiator hoses. I flushed the radiator with plain water twice. Gauge wasn’t moving much from the picture. Gauge got up to about 1/3 revving the engine to 2800 rpm, let off the throttle, and immediately went back down. Put it in reverse and let it idle for 5-6 minutes with no change in position. Drove it down the road for about 10 minutes with no movement. Got back and drained the water. Debating on using some stuff I picked up at Oreillys called Blue Devil Radiator Flush or just filling it with 50/50 already. Anyone with experience using the radiator flush, worth the time? It was $6 and will probably take me a couple of hours driving around to get it to really deep clean per instructions. I did notice small particles in the water but no major rust or debris when draining. It’s a really nice 77* here so I need to get a real test in stop and go traffic in 98* weather. 
I used radiator flush in the before mentioned 400 sb, that's what washed the head gasket sealer out of the cracked heads and blown head gasket, personally I would skip it.
Have you checked the ignition timing?
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Yeah I’ve been going back and forth on the flush. I might just run water thru it again and leave the draincock open. I’m planning to cruise it out today and see how she does.
I haven’t checked the timing. Might be on the to do list.
Im getting the itch to pull the top off.
Will Scarlet
The universe is vast...
- Joined
- May 20, 2020
- Member Number
- 766
- Messages
- 1,661
I've used radiator flush a couple of times with success, YMMV. I can understand the hesitancy as what M92PV4U points out could be an issue.
But at a minimum, I would do a reverse flush with one of these:
This always get the system clean in my experience. Since you're running water currently, letting it drain to the ground shouldn't be an issue.
72blazer
Marion Cobretti
Well last night I drained the hell out of it after the flush. Threw the coolant in. Drove it to work today. Lots of stop and go traffic for 20 minutes. It did spike up once to below the red line then quickly came down. Let the air out several times. After work, I said fuck it let’s see what she does on the highway. In stop and go traffic and on the highway she seemed to stay consistently around the 180/190 mark. Cruised at 60 with no issues. Tranny seemed happy too with no smoke noticed.
