Guys,

I am at my wit's end here

I have been chasing this overheating issue for over a month now.

Here's what's wrong

1. Fine in city
2. Hits about 220-240 on the highway, regardless of air temp
3. when it's really hot, sometimes a poof of whiteish smoke comes from the driverside pipe.

What I've fixed and/or replaced.

1. both rad hoses with the internal wire
2. cleaned rad
3. replaced rad cap
4. replaced thermo with a 160
5. replaced coolant with 60w-40c mix
6. replaced coolant with 66 water and 32 coolant and 1% water weter
7. checked timing and it's ok
8. took off crappy old exhaust (PO's) with the reversed passenger side muffler and replaced it with the shelby style side pipes.

Before I run out and buy a crate motor because the only thing left would be a head gasket leak, can anyone think of anything else that it could be?

PS, I know the motor is not shot with the head gasket leak, if there is one. I would just prefer a new motor and rebuild the old one at my leasure.

 

Matt, how about some more clues...
- Has the car always done this or did it start a month ago?
- Did anything different/any maintenance occur associated with that time frame?
- Do you have a radiator shroud installed?
- What kind of fan do you have?
- You're sure the thermostat is in the correct direction?
- You're sure of your gage readings?
- Is your coolant system losing fluid?
- When you cleaned your radiator and changes hoses, did you backflush your motor?
- Was your radiator clogged when you cleaned it?

 

Then that is what you should do Matthew. Take out the old engine and overhaul it at your leisure while you put in a crate engine. Your mind is made up, so why ask our opinion?

 

My mind is made up if there is a head leak.

 

It just started all of the sudden. I did have some carb work done but it's not running rich or lean.
Nothing different
Yes. it's installed
the 5 blade original.
Yes. It's facing the right direction.
Yes. plus the under engine temp is seems hot and the coolant has gotten to a boil at times.
UM....did not back flush the moter........Didn't think about that........
Clean as a whistle. No crap or crud to speak up.

The car did sit for many years until I started driving it a lot more. Something may have worked free.....I'll try the backflush and report back.

 

Matt it sounds the the only thing you didn't do was change the radiator? That help my 65 fastback run cool as ice w/ no shroud and fan about 1" away from the radiator.
And if you do buy that crate motor the last thing you'll want to do is leave that old s**tty radiator in the car!

 

<<<I would just prefer a new motor and rebuild the old one at my leasure. >>> That says it all.

 

The new motor would be nice!! But the radiator would be a whole lot cheeper if thats the problem.

 

A head leak can be fixed with a new head gasket installed properly.

 

When you said 'cleaned rad'... did you mean you had it rodded out? or did you just rinse it?