Cascade Crew

RK82 · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: cooling issue

well kind of a cooling issue, I want the car to run at 170-180 is where my butt dyno tells me the car runs best, but no-matter what I do it runs at 190-195 and feels kinda sluggish.
the cooling system is pretty much stock except for a mr. gasket 180 T-stat and maradyne texas twister fan.

anyone have any ideas, I've tried a few different things with same results, the only thing I haven't done is tried a 160 T-stat.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject:

I've got a 180t-stat and a modded 350, stock fans and mine stays at 185 all day long.

Might think about gauge accuracy.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

The gauge isn't gonna cause loss of power at higher temps, though. My guess would be low timing, or a lousy tune.

RK82 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:20 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:42 pm Post subject:

He did say butt dyno. Cars are always faster cold.

Are we dealing with EFI are carb here?

RK82 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject:

carb, Edelbrock 600

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject:

Aren't those carbs particularly susceptible to heat soak because of the position of the fuel bowls? Might be time for a nice phenolic spacer.

RK82 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

What material is the spacer? Aluminum does nothing for heat soak.

RK82 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject:

Plastic is better but phenolic is perfect.

Check timing again.

Make sure the coolant looks good too.

RK82 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:46 pm Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:39 pm Post subject:

The wood kind are fine. I ran a Summit 1/2" phenolic on the 390, and it helped a lot. I would have gone thicker, but that engine barely fits under the hood as it is.

RK82 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:20 pm Post subject:

ok, I think I'll try a 1/2" wood fiber spacer and a 160 T-stat, I figure with a 160 using the rule that thermostats work within a 12* +/- of what there rated at, it should run around 170 right where it likes it.

BluFbdy · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject:

not that anyone cares about it that much but your car will get crappy mileage, plus i THINK....dont quote me on this that the open/closed loop cutoff is around 170 ish, my car was going balistic when i got it up here from as cuz i had the 160*, down there it ran at around 180* but its obviously not as hot up here so it kept going thru the cycles and confusing itself, killing my gas mileage lol ive got a 190* in now and i sit aorund 200*, not great for power but its the winter time so im not too worried about it

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject:

BluFbdy · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject:

I said don't quote me lol but yeah I had to get rid of my 160* because my car haaaaated it

RK82 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:16 am Post subject:

fiveoformula · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject:

You also got your heat to worry about. Is your heater working ok when the cars at 160ish?

RK82 · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject:

my car doesn't have a heater in it.