RUNNING HOT???

[MAGMOEMONTE]

SO HERES THE DEAL, JUST BOUGHT A CLEAN, STOCK 85 MONTE SS. PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME HE THOUGHT IT HAD A BAD HEAD/HEADGASKET. THE NIGHT I DROVE IT HOME IT RAN 165ish WHEN CRUISING AT APPROX 65-70 MPH, 185-190ish IN LIGHT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AND 190-200ish AT EXTENDED (10 MIN) IDLE...ALL ACCORDING TO CHEAP SUNPRO GAUGE. THE NEXT WEEKEND THE ENGINE HAD A SOLID (NO FAN CLUTCH) FLEX FAN INSTALLED THAT WAS ABOUT 3 INCHES TO SMALL AND FACTORY UPPER AND LOWER SHROUD. THE NEXT WEEKEND I INSTALLED A SET OF 3RD GEN F-BODY FANS WITH SHROUD AND 160 DEGREE SWITCH, CAR RAN CONSISTANTLY 160 AT IDLE IN APPROX 75 DEGREE AMBIENT TEMP FOR AS LONG AS YOU LET IT IDLE. WHEN DRIVING ENGINE RAN APPORX 190. THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAS A THERMOSTAT IN IT, BUT THE COMPLETE CENTER WAS DRILLED OUT LEAVING JUST AND RING, I SWAPED THIS OUT FOR A 160 DEGREE STAT. NOW. STAT OPENS AT 160, FANS COME ON, CAR IDLE APPROX 180ish, AND STILL RUNS
190-195 WHEN DRIVING. ENGINE DOES NOT BLOW ANY SMOKE FOR TAILPIPES, NO OIL/COOLANT INTERMIX. ENGINE IS STOCK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE A SMALL CAM. WHAT DO YOU THINK....190-195 OK FOR TEMP WHEN DRIVING??
THIS IS ALL WITH NO AC ON AND IN APPORX 70-80 DEGREE AMBIENT TEMPS??? I LIVE IN SW FL AND 100 DEGREE SUMMER DAY A CONSTANT. YOUR FEEDBACK WOULD BE A GREAT HELP. THANKS

 

[Blake442]

190-195 is perfectly normal. I wouldn't worry about a thing.

 

[MAGMOEMONTE]

THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE.

 

[nawlins-tim]

That sound like my situation , but mine was creeping above 205-210 if I would let it. Turned out I replaced the T-stat, but didn't really need it. The real fix was a TIMING ADJUSTMENT. I was way retarded . A little advance not only cooled my motor but gave me some extra ZOOOMMM!!!!

190-195 is perfectly normal. I wouldn't worry about a thing.

 

[Blake442]

That sound like my situation , but mine was creeping above 205-210 if I would let it. Turned out I replaced the T-stat, but didn't really need it. The real fix was a TIMING ADJUSTMENT. I was way retarded . A little advance not only cooled my motor but gave me some extra ZOOOMMM!!!!

190-195 is perfectly normal. I wouldn't worry about a thing.

205*-210* is still a perfectly acceptable tempurature range.

 

[blk74nova]

I agree with Blake442. I run 190* thermostat in my cars. They both run about 195 all the time. 1 is a cutty with a 455 the other is a nova with a 402. Both have clutch fans and fan shrouds with radiators big enough to handle the big blocksGotta get the oil heated up enough to burn off any moisture that collects.

 

[MAGMOEMONTE]

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE HELP....THE TIP ON TIMING MAYBE A GREAT LEAD. THE ENGINE HAS A CHROME TIMING COVER WITHOUT A TIMING TAB, SOOOO, IM NOT REAL SURE WHAT THE TIMING IS SET AT. I WILL HAVE MY REPLACMENT TAB HERE MONDAY AND WILL GET IT SET THEN