I have posted here before about my engine running hot. I have a 85 el camino with a 1972 454 in it. Since I've owned it I have been having problems with it running hot . It usually runs around 220 in town and 230 on the interstate. I have a new high output water pump on a serpentine system with a new thermostat. A new aluminum radiator with two puller fans and one pusher on the outside. I'm using water wetter in the cooling. I also have installed new hoses. If I use the air it does not make any difference. I have flushed the system twice. The only thing left that I can think of is maybe they used the wrong head gaskets when the motor was assembled. I read somewhere where there were two type of heads for that year engine. So, my question is what's normal? Is it running too hot, or should I not worry about it, or should I pull the heads? Thanks to all.....merc

Don't know much about the BBC, but are some supposed to have steam holes in the gaskets, like the 400 small block? Maybe someone here knows........

I have a new high output water pump on a serpentine system Did you install the correct water pump? A serpentine belt drive requires a reverse direction water pump.

If it were me I would remove the pusher fan. Do you have a shroud on the rad? Almost sounds to me like you have an air restriction at the rad. My 396 runs 195 on the Hwy. and around 210 in stop-and-go traffic. I would try the simple things first before I pulled the heads.

theelcaminofactory has a good point, about the water pump.

x2 on the pump,,
does it have the spring in the lower hose ??? have you checked the gauge ??? :texas:

I have the right water pump, reverse rotation, springs in the lower hose, the last thing I did was install the pusher fan, it was running the same way before........merc

what temp thermostat are you running ?

I have been thru it where the engine ran hotter on the interstate than it did in town, all 3 times it was simply not enuff radiator. I know you have a new radiator, but, that would be where i'd look.

Yep---remove that pusher
If anything but a completely stock cam---initial timing in the 14-16* range
Make sure you have around 36-38* timing at 3000rpm with the vacuum advance unplugged
With the vacuum advance plugged in, you can see timing up to 46-50*

Getting the timing up on my 454HO made a world of difference in temps
And all of the Mark IV engines used the same head gaskets----GEN V used a different gasket.
If your block/heads are 1972---you have a mark IV

went back and checked the other posts:texas:


merc2u
I installed new aluminum radiator and coolant with water wetter, I drove it twenty five miles today and it never got over one ninety. When I got back I used my temperature gun on the upper hose, one seventy. I think maybe I'm finished with the cooling system, I hope.


if you have 20* differance,,id be checking the the gauge,,
also saw the oil pressure thread,,if they left the sender from the 454 car in the motor,,
they may not have swapped the temp. sender also ??
sometimes it seems with the wrong sender,,the higher the motor temp,,
the gauge will read even higher,, it will be off more than the 20* at a higher temp.???

also you said it was a 180* t-stat,,if the top hose is 170*,,could be a problem with the t-stat ??
if it opens too low,,it can cause higher temps,,or it could be stuck open...

You're right about the temperature sender, I'll get another one and see what happens. I never thought of that.....thanks....merc

Okay, I bought a temperature sensor for a 305, I guess that is what the gauge is calibrated for. I drove it for about twenty miles, ten on the interstate, the temperature ran 210 on the side roads, and about 220 on the interstate. Had to cut the drive short, altenator is not charging, always something......Next thing is to check the timing again. Thanks for the advise, I'd be lost without it......merc

double check that temp with the gun see if they agree,,compare the top hose temp. with the gauge..
with a 180 t-stat,,it shouldnt get over about 190,, on the hiway,where there is plenty of air flow..
seems like something is still not right ??? hope its the gauge but ??:dontknow:
.
if u start it up when its cold,let it idle till it warms up,,does the temp come up to ~180 and stay,,
or does it keep going up past 180??
.
can you see the cycle in the gauge or the temp gun,,,as the t-stat is opening and closeing???
.
what radiator did you get?? how many rows of tubes?? how wide are the tubes??......:texas: