Okay , folks...I, and everybody I know is stumped by my car. It's a '79 with a crate engine (installed in '98 by the previous owner), runs great, but it runs cold! 153 degrees water temp. in July!! And in the winter, the gauge never comes off the "cold " peg.... I have:

• had the cooling system flushed and re-filled and pressure tested
• replaced the thermostat with a new 180 degree (it had a 180 in it)
• replaced the sending unit
• verified that the gauge is good by having the radiator shop check the water temp. another way (hence the "153" number...the gauge says "160")

HELP ME ! I'm down to putting cardboard in front of the radiator !!!!!

Roy

 

Perhaps the new thermostat was no good?

I would agree. Try another thermostat.  If the water won't flow, it will get hot.

Boy........some folks are just never satisfied. Most of us spend a lot of time and $$ trying to get our 'Vettes to run cooler, and here you are crying ,"Its too COOOOLD"


I'm of the same opinion as the rest......try a different thermostat. If it is stuck open, or it is opening too soon, the coolant ain't gonna get very warm in the winter. Thats the only thing I would worry about, anyway.

You could also get a dirty, nasty radiator, and put it in there. That'll warm it up!!

I think it's the crate engine with the aluminum heads. I have the ZZ-4 in my '78 and get 160-170 degree readings on my temp gauge. When it had the non-matching L-82 engine in it, it ran up around 190 - 200, same original radiator in both cases.

I sure don't see any problem with one running too cool. Even in the winter I have enough heat blowing out the vents.

Dave

I agree with all the above. Try a 195 stat. That's the original temp.  stat. I have the same thing, however she runs great at around 150- 180 & still have enough heat comming in. You probably have a 4 tube radiator in it & may not be able to bring the temp. down. Please don't go with blocking the rad. You may cause a bigger problem. If all the emissions are hooked up, its the only thing I can think of that need warmer temp. Terry ( radiator man)

This may rank in the "believe it or not" category, but I had my original radiator re-cored with the 18 fin configuration, the old ones are 12 to an inch. The engine is an L-71 (435 h.p.) it idles on a hot day at 160. I'm not sure I wouldn't be satisfied than a cooler than average engine.

Thanks for all the inputs, guys........

I have;

• replaced the thermostat, again (180)
• replaced the 9 lb. (??previous owner??) cap with a 12 lb. cap
• it's still running 160 degree water (at least in this cool weather, it's coming off the "cold" peg..)
• given up trying to fix what probably ain't broke !

Thanks for the help

Roy

 

My 1980 Vette runs cold like yours, I thought it was normal for it to run that way. It still will pump out the heat when needed. Of course, I have never run my Vette here in Western Canada anything much above 80F ambiant temperature, it may well run hotter in Texas!!

Hey Doug, that sig picture looks like a calendar shot!