my 331 getting toooo hot. help

[joe2340]

Alright guys. I have the 331.. and well I dont just want a race car I woulf like to be able to cruise and so on. As of now it gets very hot if you run around town for just 1 trip across and back. It has a single core I believe alum rad. Do I need a bigger one? Also has a electric I believe mark 8 fan. I do not have a coolant overflow. Brian was to bring me one at one point idk of he still has it. Anyway... will addin the overfliw fix it? Or do I need a bigger rad? Runs 180-190 if outsidr temp is under 75. But any higher it can get to 210 and sometimes trys to spike higher. Thanks for any help guys.

[Rick93coupe]

That Mark 8 fan should move a bunch of air. Any aluminum radiator should be ok, do you know what thermostat you have in it? Do you have the factory air damn under the front bumper?

[joe2340]

Its a 93 lx. From what u know cosmetic is all factory. I believe it does have the air dam. Thermostat I am unsure of.. I think its the 180. At idle fan on.. just climbs and climbs so I didnt knoe what to change. I thought maybe not having a overflow did it.. it is running rich.. that matter?

[Rick93coupe]

Thats kind of unusual for having an aluminum radiator and a Mark 8 fan, that combination should work well together. Does it cool off if you take for a cruise?

[Rick93coupe]

What's your base timing at?

[joe2340]

Yes soon as I go to drive its fine.. and I cant remember we adjusted it. I know there is base timing and another I alwayd confuse then. The one is at +4. Other is 34 I think? Sound right? I need to taje it to xenia and have them tune it on dyno. Just havnt had time

[2Fast4You]

Are you needing to top off the coolant on a regular basis during this?
Check the radiator cap and see if you have any minor leaks.

[Rick93coupe]

Without spending any money, I'd take 30 min and pull the thermostat out of it, since you don't know for sure what temp stat you have in there. Are you sure the fan is running at idle?

[joe2340]

Yes I have to top it off. The hoses for the overflow just hang there cause there is no overflow tank.. so I thought I was loseing it there. Also I know for a fact fan is on. It is not wired to the thermo it is toggle so I turn it on its on.

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After car is at trmp or higher when I park I see it on ground where it is dripping. Like said thought was from that line

[Rick93coupe]

If your loosing coolant, your not helping your cause.

[joe2340]

I know that.. I need a factory 5.0 coolant overflow... anyone have onr?

[Rick93coupe]

Mike at Dayton Performance (Nxcoupe) more than likely has one.

[maverick]

Have you tried turning on the heat inside the vehicle when the engine starts getting too hot? What are the results when the heat is turned on?

[joe2340]

Has no air or heat none of its hooked up

[maverick]

I would start with what Rick93coupe said "Thermostat"

[2Fast4You]

I think that the best first step is to put a coolant reservoir on there and a new radiator cap and see what that does for you, then move on to the thermostat if need be.

[redfirepearlgt]

I agree with Shayne. Fix the obvious first. A radiator open to atmosphere will boil off very quickly. I am assuming the overflow tubes aren't blocked off by the description. Radiator cap not holding pressure will add to the problem. May sound crazy but have you checked to also make sure that the water pump is rotating the right direction? Is it a setup that could allow the belt to be installed on the wrong side of the water pump pulley causing reverse flow? It has been known to happen. When troubleshooting always remember that when you eliminate the possible, the impossible no matter how unlikely may very likely be the cause.

[Rick93coupe]

You can run a closed system temporarily. I don't have a thermostat in my car, a reservoir or an overflow. I've been waiting since last fall for a custom reservoir for my car & since it's never been finished, I topped off my coolant system and have been driving it ever since. It's not ideal but you can get by with it temporarily.

[redfirepearlgt]

You can run a closed system temporarily. I don't have a thermostat in my car, a reservoir or an overflow. I've been waiting since last fall for a custom reservoir for my car & since it's never been finished, I topped off my coolant system and have been driving it ever since. It's not ideal but you can get by with it temporarily.

Good to know. I would have thought it would boil off rather quickly. THanks.

[Rick93coupe]

I didn't know what to expect either. My car idles at 175 degrees and never goes above 195 during full throttle pulls.

[redfirepearlgt]

I didn't know what to expect either. My car idles at 175 degrees and never goes above 195 during full throttle pulls.

That's great. Wish the Coyotes ran the cooler, but they are set up to run around 210-220 range because of EPA I have been told.

[draggin50]

I still have the over flow jug. I'll dig it out and get it to ya. Work has been killing me lately. I have had issues before where I didn't have the over flow jug and mine would run hot. I would still pull the thermostat and see what is in it.

[86gt40]

Any car I've had that the temp climbs at idle with fan on, has been to small of radiator. Just my experience. Your fan seems sufficient from what I've read/heard, just not enough radiator.

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Just my opinion.

[joe2340]

Thanks guys. Ill get some pics. And from what it sounds brian may be over soon to stop by ill have him look im sure he has alot more expertise then me lol

[joe2340]

Well I got a tripple core rad. Gona put it in. Figure cant hurt. And was looking at my belt diagram. Granted I have no smog pump or ac compressor. It appears my water pump is goin backwards??

[redfirepearlgt]

Hmmmm...believe some simpleton with a green mustang mentioned verifying that if I recall. LOL! Maybe you can send that 3core back after all.

[maverick]

It definitely helps when your water pump is rotating in the correct direction :nono: Glad to hear that you found the problem

[joe2340]

Lol ill still use the 3. Cant have to much cooling. Not addin that much wait

[redfirepearlgt]

I was thinking in line of money better used elsewhere and not weight.

[joe2340]

Got it for 125... had extra ot pi cked up a day at work so not a loss so. Might as well keep it lol

[redfirepearlgt]

That's how ya do it. Now get yourself a "hoover" for it. (Vortech or Paxton or ProCharger)

[joe2340]

Sent paxton a email for a parts list to get a idea what all I need. Since its a 93 but carbed. Buuuut I just had my offer get accepted for the house jm trying to buy so that purchase will have to wait

[2Fast4You]

Glad you figured it out, get it out and have fun.