The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Overheating

I've got a 1955 blueflame in my 52 GMC 9600 I,m using the original radiator with the later model waterpump, I wasn't sure if my original temp gauge was correct so I installed an electric one now when I get up to 50 mph the temp sits on about 100C and on hills it often climbs to 110 or 115 I,ve been told it could be speed related pump cavitation due to clearance between the impeller and pump
being to wide can this be so I,m running a water recovery system also and dont seem to be losing any water and no bubbles in water at idle when hot also done a carbon monoxide test and this came up negative

What fan are you running? Electric fan or standard? And does it have a shroud?

I,m running both the standard fan and a 16inch electric fan on front side of the radiator at the top, I,ve had to cut the bottom of the original fan shroud out to fit the lower position of the Blueflame water pump

100 to 115 doesnt seem like that much, and I would think
on hills it would could be normal to go up 15 degrees..

maybe I miss the point... if it was above 210 I might worry

joker, the 100-115 is C, which means it's running 212F at the coolest .... Chris, you need to make some changes, having fans on both sides of the rad is definitely not good - also there is an adapter to reposition the pump so it's correct for the conversion you have

Bill

If your electric is a nice cfm and pulls through the radiator I would ditch the other fan. I run the stock radiator in my 65 and have a 3500cfm 16x16 electric fan only and a 180 thermo and I never go over 190f. I run a lot of hp also. It will get to 190 then cool to 170. My 64 had both and I ripped the mechanical off. They draw some huge amps though.

"joker, the 100-115 is C, which means it's running 212F at the coolest .... Chris, you need to make some changes, having fans on both sides of the rad is definitely not good - also there is an adapter to reposition the pump so it's correct for the conversion you have"
Joker
I think his problem may be that he has a metric water pump on a Yankee motor.LOL
Carl

Thank you for the advice I will take it into consideration you Have pointed me in a direction I hadn't thought of

Cheers 52 Carl

placing the electric fan in front will actually hinder air flow, these trucks have ran just fine for 50 60 years like they came from the factory. As a matter of fact that is the one item that wasn't recommended to be modified in the old days as there was plenty of wiggle room. A blue flame six may have a bit more power, but nothing of any huge magnitude. Just get the fan and shroud where they are supposed to be and you should be just fine.

Chrislon,
First of all, my jab about the 'metric water pump' was aimed at Joker, no offense to you I hope (or to Joker for that matter).
My question for you is about the blue flame water pump. Is it for a 55 engine and does it put the stock fan in the center of the radiator? There has been discussions here about this misalignment problem and overheating problems. And since you have a big truck, it would be even more prone to overheating if everything isn't just right. There is an adapter plate available to allow the use of a stock, early AD water pump that moves the water pump and fan to be in the center of the radiator.

Thankyou Carl52 I have started making enquires about a replacement pump and I will get back with the results Cheers Chris

Pre '68 Dave, a valued member here, makes the adapter plate for relocating the early AD water pump on the later 235 engines. Use the Search feature using his name and water pump adapter.

If you would like to read about my adapter. Here is a link