Running really hot! What could cause it?

[mikepmcs]

this is good stuff, keep it comin'

[resq302]

Brian, the full throttle black smoke "cloud" is a product of jetting on the secondary side of the carb. Once the primary side is jetted correctly then the back needs to be dialed in. Isn't carb tuning fun 


Ron

Ron,

Now you know why I never got into working on carburators.  Too many things to mess with.  I rebuilt a 2 bbl carb for my 85 Jeep once.  That was the first and last time I messed with a carb.  lol

[firefighter3931]

Any updates Brian....how's the beast running ?


Ron

[resq302]

Ron,

Took the charger to the show this past Sunday (took a first and missed best in show by 2 points) and it was cooler out that day.  The highest I saw the temp get was about 170-180.  A LOT better than what it was.  I will try and take it out some more to get more results but I just got a new set of concourse battery cables from Bill Alphin and would like to get them installed.  If everything goes well tomorrow, I will try to take the charger out as it is supposed to be 92 with out the humidity index.  Should be good conditions to test to see if it still over heats.

So far, so good.  Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Brian

[firefighter3931]

That sounds better !     Hopefully the road test confirms that all is well. Keep us posted Brian. 


Ron

[resq302]

Ron,

Well, today it is 102 degrees, 110+ including humidity (according to my F-150 outside air temp) and I took the charger out for a spin around town.  What better of a day to see if it over heats than in 100+ temps.  Anyway, I was driving it around town and for the most part of the ride, it was I would assume the 180-190 temp.  I took it out on the highway for a short ride at 70+ mph and then came back the same route.  Got off of the highway and almost had a utility body truck hit me, luckily the 4 piston disc brakes work wonderfully!  Anyway, drove around town some more and noticed it was up just slightly past the 12 o clock posistion.  (Im guessing that is like 195)  Did some more driving around town and it remained the same position, maybe dropping slightly.  Brought the car back home and let it sit idleing for about 5-10 mins.  Noticed it crept up to about 220 but without a fan shroud and it being a really hot day, I thought that might have been normal.  Took it back out for a quick ride around town to see if the temp would go down driving and it did.  It went back to just slightly over the 12 o clock position. 

Conclusion.....  I guess it was that I had air in the system.  Again, thanks for the tip about putting the car on ramps to let the air get out.

[dodge freak]

Why don't you get a fan shroud ? Then it never get to 220 , think summit has some stainless steel ones that look nice too.

[firefighter3931]

Ron,

Well, today it is 102 degrees, 110+ including humidity (according to my F-150 outside air temp) and I took the charger out for a spin around town.  What better of a day to see if it over heats than in 100+ temps.  Anyway, I was driving it around town and for the most part of the ride, it was I would assume the 180-190 temp.  I took it out on the highway for a short ride at 70+ mph and then came back the same route.  Got off of the highway and almost had a utility body truck hit me, luckily the 4 piston disc brakes work wonderfully!  Anyway, drove around town some more and noticed it was up just slightly past the 12 o clock posistion.  (Im guessing that is like 195)  Did some more driving around town and it remained the same position, maybe dropping slightly.  Brought the car back home and let it sit idleing for about 5-10 mins.  Noticed it crept up to about 220 but without a fan shroud and it being a really hot day, I thought that might have been normal.  Took it back out for a quick ride around town to see if the temp would go down driving and it did.  It went back to just slightly over the 12 o clock position. 

Conclusion.....  I guess it was that I had air in the system.  Again, thanks for the tip about putting the car on ramps to let the air get out.

Thanks for the update Brian.  Those are pretty harsh conditions to test a cooling system....i'd say based on your results it's working as good as can be expected. 

Fwiw, i agree with Dodgefreak, a shroud would help things a lot, especially idleing around in traffic when the car is stationary. I'm sure you realize this....


Ron


Ps. Talk about heat....it's 48*C (118*F) up here ! 

[resq302]

Ron and Dodge freak,

I wish I could run a fan shroud.  If I was not doing total stock with a few unknown/nonvisible modifications, I would certainly add the fan shroud.  However, the judging criteria I am going for does not allow that modification.  Basically, as it would have rolled off the assembly line.  If I could make it anyway that I wanted, it would certainly have a fan shroud.  I am still dumbfounded as to why the hell Mopar NEVER installed a shroud on the 383 engine with a 22" rad.  I mean, they installed a shroud with ALL of the 26" rads.  Why not the same with the 22".

[firefighter3931]

That's a good question Brian....it seems like they should have installed a shroud, especially with the 22in rad.  My 70r/t 440-6 has a 22in rad and it also has a shroud....maybe it's a 440 only deal ?

Anyhow, it's still good to hear that the overheating issue is resolved. 


Ron

[resq302]

Ron, in 69 if you had a 440, you DID get a shroud.  Which really makes me question why they did not include a shroud with a 383?  Really a stock 383 vs. 440 (excluding the 6 pk option) is only shy by 40 hp.

Still baffles the hell out of me.