Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

cooling issue ?? at idle

Old Sep 23, 2008 | 06:46 PM
  #1  
titefd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default cooling issue ?? at idle

Greetings, So Im basically done with my LS1 into a volvo wagon, it all seems good, but the temp goes way past 230F with the a/c on at idle, if I turn the a/c off the engine temp wont go down till I raise the engine RPM. I checked the air being pulled by the radiator fan and noticed that its not that hot untill the rpm is raised indicating that there is little or no flow at idle, it has a new volvo radiator, the engine has a 180degree thermostat, the hoses do not collapse. My heater is connected, but the design of the heater valve stops flow in any direction in or out from the heater fittings.( I dont know if this matters) The engine also has a new ac delco water pump. So I have no idea what may be causing the little or no flow at idle?? Thanks

IK
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:01 PM
  #2  
hotrod51's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Jonesboro, AR
Default

I just had a new 180 thermostat stick on my 6.0 in my 47 chevy pu.
Naturally this happened while at the Streetrod Nationals in Louisville.
I was able to diagnose this quick with an infra-red digital thermometer. Engine side of the thermostat was hot, while the radiator side was cool. Hope this helps.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:05 AM
  #3  
titefd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by hotrod51
I just had a new 180 thermostat stick on my 6.0 in my 47 chevy pu.
Naturally this happened while at the Streetrod Nationals in Louisville.
I was able to diagnose this quick with an infra-red digital thermometer. Engine side of the thermostat was hot, while the radiator side was cool. Hope this helps.
what brand was the thermostat?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:21 AM
  #4  
01WS6/tamu's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (37)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 73
From: somewhere in TX
Default

Bypass the heater shutoff valve, the ls engines are designed to circulate coolant through the heater core as it warms up. Some people have it blocked without any trouble but this would be quick for you to try and may solve your problem. My s10 was doing this when I test fired it prior to being ready to hook up the heater, after that it was fine.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:25 AM
  #5  
69LT1Bird's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 6
From: Lapeer, MI
Default

Do you have the stock crank pulley or an under drive?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:10 PM
  #6  
Oscar Will's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Simi VAlley,CA
Default

Look for a heater valve that sits inline on both heater hoses, when shut off it allows flow back to the pump rather than to just block the flow. I've seen some cooling system problems averted with these valves.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 02:17 PM
  #7  
titefd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Oscar Will
Look for a heater valve that sits inline on both heater hoses, when shut off it allows flow back to the pump rather than to just block the flow. I've seen some cooling system problems averted with these valves.
So basically I can get the stock camaro LS1 heater valve ?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 04:16 PM
  #8  
Oscar Will's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Simi VAlley,CA
Default

Camaro doesn't use one, try a 1987 Monte Carlo or something like that.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:35 PM
  #9  
ls1nova71's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 211
From: Liberty, MO
Default

Are you sure it's full of coolant? If you just filled the radiator up, it might not be full. I've always had to remove the upper radiator hose at the radiator and pour the coolant in that way it fills the entire engine with coolant. My Nova swap did just as you described the first time I started it. Hope this helps.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 07:54 PM
  #10  
01WS6/tamu's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (37)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 73
From: somewhere in TX
Default

One other thing that can cause is it if you capped the steam vent tube instead of plumbing it into the cooling system... I think.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:58 PM
  #11  
titefd's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Oscar Will
Camaro doesn't use one, try a 1987 Monte Carlo or something like that.
well shouldnt the OEM heater valve from the car that the LS1 actually came from have the feature that there is flow inbetween the two heater outputs even when the heater core is closed off by the valve ?
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2008 | 02:44 PM
  #12  
01WS6/tamu's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (37)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 73
From: somewhere in TX
Default

The factory Ls1 vehicles do not use a inline heater shut off valve. They have constant coolant flow through the heater core.
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:52 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE