I have a 96 camaro with a 496 big block, that i installed over the past year. At idle for about 10-15 minutes it gets to about 215 and then it keeps going up. I have tried different fans and radaitors but still happens. I did a exhaust gas test and it passed. I am running water with water wetter and a 160 stat. I need help big time, I dont know what else to try before I have to start thinking about taking the heads off. Any info would help

thanks, joey

 

What radiator and what fans do you have? What type of water pump? Any pics of the car? Very impressive....

 

Radiator Griffen 27.5x15.5 single pass 1 inch tubes old one
Radiator griffen 16x27.5 double pass with 1.5 tubes new one
fans I have tried
14 in single 1500 CFM
14 inch 2850 CFM no shroud
duel 12 inch fans with shroud
Edlbrock Mech. waterpump
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3 things come to mind in the case of overheating
timing too high, lean condition, and over bore or walls too thin
since its a bbc it should be fine???? unless you overboard a 396


if the water isn't restricted or slowed down and given time to exchange the heat . make sure the hoses aren't collapsing

what size jets are you running? dyno tune jets usually are a little lean, from what Iv heard

just try stepping the sizes up about 4 and try again, I know that is fat but at least you'll know

 

I never had luck running straight water, I experienced the same issues. I would try to mix your coolant, once water starts to boil it's all over. I'll measure my radiator when I get home, but I'm surprised the larger radiator with dual 12" fans isn't doing the job.

 

timing too retarded will cause serious heat,

also check the obvious like make sure the radiator is getting all that heat from the motor, if so the radiator should be just as hot at the bottom as it is the top, and should be very very hot just like the motor, not just kinda hot, should be scorching hot all over, not just the top. Feel the bottom, if it's not then you have some kind of flow problem or air trapped.

I had a BBC in an 88, I had overheating problems only while moving no matter what I did for flow or radiator and that rad got SUPER HOT... what I realized I did wrong was didnt re-install the bottom rad shroud, the little plastic piece that sits directly under the radiator, behind the air path to the radiator, the faster I went the less air going into the radiator.. after re-installing the dam problem solved.

 

Sorry guys forgot to write back. I installed the stock 2 air dam pieces that are in the nose and worked perfect.

 

First off, as far as I know you always have to run the water hose from the top fitting on the water pump to the front fitting on the intake manifold - yours is missing and this could be causing a big air bubble or messing up the flow of coolant through the motor.

Secondly have you confirmed that you have the correct heads and head gaskets to match your block, this is another cause of overheating.

Very nice install & engine compartment BTW

 

Is this what fixed it?

 

yes it fixed it.

 

So, was it the stupid hose or something else. Inquiring minds want to know!!

 

I installed the stock 2 air dam pieces that are in the nose/hood latch area and worked perfect. Also I cant believe this it worked with the stock radiator also.

 

 

Remember that radiators work on eliminating heat (HP). If you aren't pushing your BBC over the original numbers of the LT1 for extended periods of time, you won't have problems. If you race all out for 20-30 minutes, then you may come to the limits of the radiator.

Your project kicks ***, BTW.