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| | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 591 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 591 | I have a rebuilt 283 in a 1957 Chevy pickup. It has a new short water pump with a Edelbrock intake. I'm using my original radiator (formerly a 261), I installed a fan shroud. The thermostat has been replaced. It overheats, but it appears as if the thermostat is not opening, since the fluid in the radiator never seems to heat up. Also, I get no heat out of the heater, which makes me think there is no circulation. The timing seems to be roughly correct. I'm wondering if I'm getting cavitation in the water pump. I have tried running without the radiator cap initially to remove air pockets. Any thoughts about what I could try next would be appreciated. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 295 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 295 | Take out the thermostat. See if that makes a differance.
Dan Bentler | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 | Have you tried running the engine without the thermostat installed to see if it circulates ? With the radiator cap off you can look in the radiator and see if there is any ciculation in the radiator. And when you test the flow with the thermostat out, and it circulates. Then you may have accidently put the thermostat in wrong or it could be bad or you may have gotten the wrong thermostat. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | How long does it run before it gets hot? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | Sounds like an air pocket behind the thermostat. Drill a small hole in the thermostat flange to release the trapped air. Also, park it on the steepest incline, nose up, to help burp the air out of the system,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 591 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 591 | Seems like everybody was on track. I took out the thermostat and drilled a small relief hole as Scott suggested. It worked great. The engine had been sitting for about 3 years (which I neglected to mention), so maybe that contributed to the air pocket issue. In any case it works great now, I thank all of you for your responses. This was really getting on my nerves (and the antifreeze was getting on the floor). Thanks again, much appreciated.
Don
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