Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Chevy 230 Engine running hot

Chevy 230, edelbrock, stove bolt headers, when warms up temp is at 190-200. Today went for a drive, temp kept increasing 5 degrees. Temp reached 230 so I stopped. Any one have any suggestion on what might be causing this?

Thanks.

Not a lot to go on.

When did it start doing this?

What vehicle is this in?

What condition is your cooling system in?

What's your timing?

What thermostat are you running?

LG

In addition to LG, need to know all those things, but I take it you are saying it normally is at 200 tops, and on the last drive it stared overheating.
1. Broken Thermostat
2. Distributor hold down is loose and has rotated "retarded".

My 2 guess for my 2 cents.

Went on a night drive to see if the temp rose over 200, however, it stayed between 195-200 degrees...top was 210 for about two minutes. I'm not sure what thermostat I have. Which one should I run? It's a 62 Chevy Nova 230. My cooling system is a stock radiator. I have a four barrow edelbrock, offy manifold, stovbolt headers and heat plate.

Is this as it goes down the road at some speed, or when it's stopped, or running slowly (ie in traffic)?

Does it have the stock pulleys driving the water pump?

Are you sure your temp gauge is reading right?

Is it possible some of the tubes in the radiator are clogged (is the radiator orriginal to the car)?

The other suggestions are good too.

Without further info on your combo though it's difficult to tell.


I would run a 185* T'stat in that, as you say it's carbbed, but that's me.

The stock radiator should be fine, if the system is clean and no blockage in the core.

I'm not familiar with Novas, If it has the stock pulleys and shroud (did Novas have shrouds?), that should be OK.

If the over heating occurs under acceleration (even slight) there maybe a timing issue. If the over heating occurs while cruising at RPM it could be running too lean.

Has this always been a problem?

LG

Good call on the temp gage. My neighbor used a cheap temp gage in his dirt track car and it was a bad night at the races.

Either a 160 or 180 thermostat is fine. If you drive in the winter you will want a 180.

I would recommend flushing the cooling system once at home and if it dont come clean you can get it professionally flushed for about 40 bucks.