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#27668 07/26/2004 1:49 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 3 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 3 | Hi All,
I just bought a 51 Chevy with a 235 engine in it. The truck is totally restored and runs great. Living in California, the temps are hitting 100 degrees + of late. The other day, I was driving freeway and my truck which usually sits at around 180 temp went to the 212 mark on my temp gauge as I drove up a hill. The original gauge is still working. My question is: Is the truck overheating because of the local weather and the fact that I was driving up an incline or do you think I have a problem. The truck has no heating problems before this and the radiator is clean, with the proper antifreeze levels etc.
What should I look for, any suggestions.
D | | |
#27669 07/26/2004 3:14 PM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 709 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2001 Posts: 709 | Debbie, this is more than likely normal operation for the conditions mentioned. I just returned from a cross country trip in my 59 Apache with the 283 V8. Only time the temp guage showed any rise above normal operation was on I-40 climbing the grade just outside of Needles heading east towards Barstow. We did this stretch at the hottest part of the day, between 1:30 and 5 pm. Once we topped the grade the guage dropped back to almost its normal range. May I suggest you go to a 160 degree thermostat for summer use in your locale. I lived for years in Barstow and this was routine maintenance after cool weather was over.
Bruce
Old Toy: Ol' Betsy stock 59 Apache SB Stepside (Gone but not Forgotten)
New Toy: 1962 Impala SS Coupe
The Driver: 1990 Toyota truck
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#27670 07/27/2004 4:32 AM | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | I'm going to have to disagree with it being normal to overheat. I keep a 180* thermostat in my 52. I have hauled one to two ton loads in 100 to 105* weather for 15 miles, my temp gauge has stayed between 180 and 190. Something isn't right if you're overheating like that.
Things that can cause overheating include:
carb mixture too lean
valves not adjusted correctly
radiator partially plugged
block water passages plugged
water pump impeller erosion
water pump turning too fast, not allowing proper heat transfer
intake manifold leak
faulty thermostat
I would start by hooking up a vacuum gauge for a low-tech engine diagnosis. They cost about $15 and usually have an instruction sheet that tells what the different readings mean.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
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#27671 07/28/2004 1:59 AM | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 258 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 258 | What vintage 235 is in your '51?
A '51 1/2 ton would've left the factory with a 216...
Frank McMullen
1941 Chevy dump truck
1949 GMC 100 pick-up
1954 Chevy 3600 pick-up
1955.1 4400 dump truck
1941 De Soto & other MoPars
1928 Model A F**D Special Coupe
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