hello,im new to this forum hope i can get some help,i bought a 96 z28 from a friend that just didnt have time for it,it started overheating so he changed w pump,stat,rad,and sending unit and it still overheating.it doesnt have water in exhust or oil in radiator,it doesnt backfire niether does it smoke so dont think its heads,i drove it home from his house about 30 min drive had no problem gauge stayed at 160ish but when i got home i left it running and within 5 min gauge started going up,i turned it off and water was coming out overflow and rad.any thoughts will help

 

Did you bleed the coolant system ? are the fans turning on ? The fans should turn on around 220 or so
could be wrong there ? but they should be on before it goes in the red
do a search for shoebox read the part about the cooling system has a lot of information
about these cars this is a search that you want to check out very good link
when you search shoebox the link is in his signature under. ( how to)

 

yes fans are on the guy hooked them direct so always on,but thanks for the info on shoebox.

 

Welcome to CamaroZ28.com!!!

Your 96 is a 4th Gen, and has the LT1 engine. This forum is for the 3rd Gens, and the L98 engine.

I'll move your post to the correct forum.

 

sorry never been on forums before,thanks

 

When it started to get warm we're was the needle on the gauge
U turned it off and u said water was coming out of radiator ? Cap on

Bleed the system check his work and se if you have the correct lt1 t stat

 

the gauge wasnt even half way up i just noticed water coming out and looked real fast and it was close to the middle but it was moving little fast,what stat am i suppost to have?160 or180

 

sorry,yes the cap was on.

 

The stock LT1 thermostat is 180° as stated in the cooling system info on my website.

Be sure the hoses for the steam pipe and the remote reservoir are not switched. The reservoir hose is connected at the radiator filler neck. The steam pipe hose a few inches below that.

 

thanks for info going to check tomorrow thanks for web site.

 

Well I would bleed the coolant system and lt1s warm up fast when sitting still or in traffic middle of the gauge and slightly over is normal if its sitting . I'd throw a 160 stat in there and then possibly follow shoeboxs directions to wiring your fans on a manual switch instead of hot wired to run all the time .. It will save the fan motors for when u really need them

 

ok,im still tring to figure this overheating problem,i ran the car with rad cap off and you can see the stream of water coming from port under overflow line which is normal but the rad slowly overflowed,there were no bubbles just smooth rise,note this is while car is cold is this normal for water to rise while car is cold?

 

How cold? Eventually it will rise to the point where you will have to put the cap on.

 

One thing to check is if the radiator and or ac condensor is loaded with debris. I had issues with mine when I bought it. It would cool on highway but in town would get warm at any stops.

 

well this car is a project car so im going to take it down and new gaskets and hoses,but what signs would there be if the overheating is from the block and not the heads?