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| | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 | ok got a 53 chevy 210. Got it running after sitting 15 yrs. Runs and drives great as long as iam moving even slow runs low temp. if I stop it will start to heat up never seems to boil over but orginal gauge will get high. Soon as I take off it will cool down. Things I have done and checked.
radiator has been cleaned out
took head off cleaned gunk out of water ports
new water pump
new hoses
50/50 water antifreeze mix
and stock fan is 1/2 in from rad
it will hold a piece of paper to rad
iam stumped still gets warm when idling for a bit any suggestions thanks
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 | perhaps the gauge is wonky. Try to determine the actual temperature by some other means. Do you have a thermostat?
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,868 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,868 | If it's not boiling over, it's not getting much hot. Try an infra-red thermometer to check the temps at various places on the cylinder head, water jacket, liquid in the radiator top tank, radiator outlet, etc. They're very inexpensive, particularly if you shop Ebay. I use mine frequently.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 | as BC52 said, put an aftermarket gauge on it to see the actual temp as you may not really have an issue.
On an older engine that has been sitting that long, you may have a lot of rust and junk caked in the bottom of the water jackets in the block. Did you run a chemical flush through the whole system?
One other thing you can do is put a fan shroud on the radiator. I realize fan is only 1/2" away but, a shroud forces even more air through the radiator. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 | ok thanks ya was thinking possibly gauge I will check with another gauge. my vacuum advance doesn't seem to work could that cause heating | | | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 5 | And yes took head off dug everthing out block is flowing good now
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,063 | vacuum advance should not affect heat at an idle, it really affects economy at cruise though! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 202 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 202 | Did you install a new thermostat.
Keep the 216's running. 1949 1/2 ton model #1314 (US 3104) Brian
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | If the ignition timing is a smidge slow it may cause it to heat a little at idle, and as the mechanical advance brings the timing closer, it may cool. Just something else to double check. | | |
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