Trying to Stay Cool - FIXED!!!!

[dodj]

 If the water coming out the bottom is cool enough (you seem to indicate it is), then the cooler water is not getting circulated through the block fast enough to remove the heat. If the bottom rad hose was still hot, then I'd be thinking air flow/rad issue.
So it still looks like a flow problem to me. Pump, t-stat, blockage, rad. 

[Cudajason]

If the water coming out the bottom is cool enough (you seem to indicate it is), then the cooler water is not getting circulated through the block fast enough to remove the heat. If the bottom rad hose was still hot, then I'd be thinking air flow/rad issue.
So it still looks like a flow problem to me. Pump, t-stat, blockage, rad. 

@dodj thanks, great insight.   Diagnosing is always my problem and I really have not had a chance to think about it.

I guess the question is what is cool enough?  My temp gun shows the lower rad hose at 169..the thermostat housing shows 209.  That would seem like a pretty good difference to me.

I do not recall how old that water pump is, maybe its time to put a new one on. 

Rock Auto has a gates HV pump, (looks like it has the plate over the blades).  its about the same with shipping as getting a non HV from Napa locally.

[dodj]

T-stats are cheap. Would be my next move. Not sure how old your installed one is?
As to how cool should the bottom hose be? I have no idea. The number you said seems reasonable to me?

[Cudajason]

T-stats are cheap. Would be my next move. Not sure how old your installed one is?
As to how cool should the bottom hose be? I have no idea. The number you said seems reasonable to me?

@dodj yep they are.  My t-stat is new, two weeks old, and I tested that it works (I have heard the horror stories).

[dodj]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

[Cudajason]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

Thanks man.  I appreciate that.

yes 15 degrees cooler than mine.  However, you are seeing a 20 degree difference in the lower rad hose to the T-stat.

My  T-stat was 209 my lower hose was 169, which is a 40 degree difference.  TO me that indicates the rad is working.  I think you are on to something with the water pump.

I have a new one order (should be here tomorrow).  I will try that next.

[dodj]

I was thinking my tstat housing was reading very close to the tstat rating. May be useful information.

[72 Challenger]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but since a lot of people are talking cooling, how much flow should you see in the rad, with the cap removed, when the thermostat is open?

Much like Jason I'm struggling to keep my 340 cool. So far I have put new rad hoses with the spring on it, tried both a 160 and a 180 t-stat (both checked and operational as advertised) but my car also creeps up in temp.

With the rad cap off from a cold start to ~190 degrees, there did not seem to be a lot of flow from where I could see the coolant in the top of the rad. Should it be visibly moving? Mine seems to trickle and when I hit the throttle, it does not pick up much.

Any ideas? I'm not really jazzed at the idea of ripping off my water pump, but right now it seems to be the only unknown.

[dodj]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

Thanks man.  I appreciate that.

yes 15 degrees cooler than mine.  However, you are seeing a 20 degree difference in the lower rad hose to the T-stat.

My  T-stat was 209 my lower hose was 169, which is a 40 degree difference.  TO me that indicates the rad is working.  I think you are on to something with the water pump.

I have a new one order (should be here tomorrow).  I will try that next.

Hmmmm195 -154 is 41...... not 20 ...lol   so the same temp difference.   
And yes, I agree, your rad seems to be fine.

[Cudajason]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

Thanks man.  I appreciate that.

yes 15 degrees cooler than mine.  However, you are seeing a 20 degree difference in the lower rad hose to the T-stat.

My  T-stat was 209 my lower hose was 169, which is a 40 degree difference.  TO me that indicates the rad is working.  I think you are on to something with the water pump.

I have a new one order (should be here tomorrow).  I will try that next.

Hmmmm195 -154 is 41...... not 20 ...lol   so the same temp difference.   

WOW I really screwed that one up.  that will teach me to work an post at the same time!

[Cudajason]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but since a lot of people are talking cooling, how much flow should you see in the rad, with the cap removed, when the thermostat is open?

Much like Jason I'm struggling to keep my 340 cool. So far I have put new rad hoses with the spring on it, tried both a 160 and a 180 t-stat (both checked and operational as advertised) but my car also creeps up in temp.

With the rad cap off from a cold start to ~190 degrees, there did not seem to be a lot of flow from where I could see the coolant in the top of the rad. Should it be visibly moving? Mine seems to trickle and when I hit the throttle, it does not pick up much.

Any ideas? I'm not really jazzed at the idea of ripping off my water pump, but right now it seems to be the only unknown.

hey @72 Challenger  as I understand it, you should be able see the coolant moving / flowing in form the top rad hose one the t-stat is open.  If you don't see anything, you may have a problem.

I will try to take some video of min with the current water pump and the new one.

[DeathProofCuda]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

Thanks man.  I appreciate that.

yes 15 degrees cooler than mine.  However, you are seeing a 20 degree difference in the lower rad hose to the T-stat.

My  T-stat was 209 my lower hose was 169, which is a 40 degree difference.  TO me that indicates the rad is working.  I think you are on to something with the water pump.

I have a new one order (should be here tomorrow).  I will try that next.

I'm no expert on this issue, but to me the information above suggests that your cooling system is functioning property.  Have you thought about how your tune may be adding excessive heat to the engine?  Where is your timing set at?  Maybe too retarded?  Maybe carb is running too lean?

[Cudajason]

Just FYI Jason
Took some readings off my car because the gauge indicated I was running too cool....and I did not believe it..
Lower rad hose: 154* sooo...cooler than yours? Maybe rad not doing it's job effectively?
Tstat housing: 195.6*  (195* tstat)
Temp sender 182*

Thanks man.  I appreciate that.

yes 15 degrees cooler than mine.  However, you are seeing a 20 degree difference in the lower rad hose to the T-stat.

My  T-stat was 209 my lower hose was 169, which is a 40 degree difference.  TO me that indicates the rad is working.  I think you are on to something with the water pump.

I have a new one order (should be here tomorrow).  I will try that next.

I'm no expert on this issue, but to me the information above suggests that your cooling system is functioning property.  Have you thought about how your tune may be adding excessive heat to the engine?  Where is your timing set at?  Maybe too retarded?  Maybe carb is running too lean?

@DeathProofCuda I have thought of that.

I have a wideband o2 sensor and that indicates  that cab is running in the high 13s to low 14s at idle and a little richer then that at cruise. 

The initial timing was at 22 degrees, but I recently dropped that to 16degrees.  I was tuning it due to a new 1 inch carb spacer.  honestly I think it ran better at 22.

none of that had any impact on the temp.

[DeathProofCuda]

OK, sounds like you have your bases covered.  I'll be interested to hear how the new waterpump works out for you.   Good luck.

[72 Challenger]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but since a lot of people are talking cooling, how much flow should you see in the rad, with the cap removed, when the thermostat is open?

Much like Jason I'm struggling to keep my 340 cool. So far I have put new rad hoses with the spring on it, tried both a 160 and a 180 t-stat (both checked and operational as advertised) but my car also creeps up in temp.

With the rad cap off from a cold start to ~190 degrees, there did not seem to be a lot of flow from where I could see the coolant in the top of the rad. Should it be visibly moving? Mine seems to trickle and when I hit the throttle, it does not pick up much.

Any ideas? I'm not really jazzed at the idea of ripping off my water pump, but right now it seems to be the only unknown.

hey @72 Challenger  as I understand it, you should be able see the coolant moving / flowing in form the top rad hose one the t-stat is open.  If you don't see anything, you may have a problem.

I will try to take some video of min with the current water pump and the new one.

@Cudajason i would bring debt to you if you could post that vid.

Thanks boss!