tony ham

GOT A '95 Z28, auto transmission camaro. The car runs strong but continually overheats. Now for the details. First I performed a 100k tune up(car has about 103k now) of course it didn't fix the problem. So I then had the water pump replaced, still no go. Next got a 180 thermostat and programmed the cpu to work along with it by using my hypertech performance programmer, got some small results in lower temps, like just below the red zone. Last week my friend J.E. and myself dropped the engine out of the car and changed out all the gaskets, The head gaskets the exhaust gasket the valve cover gaskets, oil pan, tranny, just about any gasket you can think of and replaced all fluids. Oh we also put on some high perfromance heads in place of the stock ones( u can check em out on summitracing.com part number TFS-30400010). Now the gaskets we took out were shot to pieces so all leaks stopped but the overheating was way worse. Today(sept. 6) we replaced the fan switch and put in 160 thermostat because the fans would turn on sporadically. Voila everything runs like a new car, we street test it and everything, no overheating, holding steady around 165-175 degrees. Later on i restart the car and during the drive home about 20 miles temp just keeps going up and up till it red lines...Sone one HELP,my LT1 is kicking my butt. Maybe the radiator or water pump...i am open to suggestions and help.

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

i would put a manual fan switch in. and check the condition of the radiator. check to be sure nothing is blocking it,fins arent messed up,etc. couple bottles of water wetter couldnt hurt either.

XpEdItIoUs

iTrader: (44)

Are your fans kicking on? You could have a partially clogged radiator.

tony ham

Yeah the fans kick on now thanks to the new fan switch installed, they are pretty much on all the time it seems. How can I check for the radiatoer being clogged???

transambandit

iTrader: (6)

I have this same problem, my fans wont kick on, i know they work because i had a manual fan switch attached, but i had to remove it because there was something wrong with it that caused the ground wire to heat up and melt, so i am going to try replacing some relays, if that doesnt work i am going to try the SLP manual switch. How do you check the clogged radiator? Also to the OP, did you bleed the coolant? That can cause overheating if you have air pockets.

XpEdItIoUs

iTrader: (44)

If you have a thermo gun, You can run the car and when it get warmed up check the temp of both radiator hoses. If you see a big difference in temp you know your radiator aint flowing.

tony ham

yeah we bled the coolant so i don't think there are any air pockets. I am gonna check the hoses as suggested to see if maybe its the radiator

SUCK MY SS

iTrader: (14)

on average you will see between 20-30 degree F temperature drop from the inlet to outlet side of the radiator on a properly working system...

have you pressure tested the system?
make sure the seal on the radiator cap has not been compromised....you may or not be able to tell this visually...

impstrz28

iTrader: (2)

We got a new radiator cap too. Where can we get a temp gun to check the hoses? Can we just take it to any shop to pressure test the system?

MrElectric03

iTrader: (71)

It still has the air dam installed right? Id be checking under the front and be sure leaves or a plastic bag didnt get clogged in the radiator or something, beyond that just be sure its fully bledall air out.

XpEdItIoUs

iTrader: (44)

A pressure test will only find leaks if you guys are not loosing coolant then don't worry about it. You can find a thermo gun at harbor frieght or any parts store. Drive it and if it starts to overheat check the temp on both hoses.

SUCK MY SS

iTrader: (14)

sometimes small leaks are hard to detect since they dont use much to any fluid...however they do cause the system to lose pressure in turn the cooling system will not be working up to task..

in this particular case, i think its a gunked up radiator.

transambandit

iTrader: (6)

okay is there a way to fix a gunked up radiator or does it need to be replaced? Mine could probably use a cleaning anyway as it is a 14 year old ride.

SUCK MY SS

iTrader: (14)

service shops like ezlube/jiffy lube offer proper radiator flushing...