TheAMCForum.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > The Garage > V8 Engine Repair and Modifications
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Can't cool my 360
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login
Thank you for using The AMC Forum.    Click to Bookmark this page

Can't cool my 360
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 7>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Fweaky View Drop Down
AMC Apprentice
AMC Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: May/12/2010
Location: Col Heights, Va
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20 		  Quote Fweaky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Can't cool my 360
    Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 4:02am

Yea Bob, I think I will just continue to drive it around town and to work. I worked my butt off all spring to get the heat problem solved so I could drive it to the Outter Banks in NC. It's been so hot here this summer with very few days below 95 degrees that I haven't been able to see any benifits from changes i've made. It may be running cooler than last summer and I just can't tell yet. My wife has a 2009 Jeep Unlimited that I can drive down to the beach but its just not as fun as driving old Jeep.

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Back to Top
Fweaky View Drop Down
AMC Apprentice
AMC Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: May/12/2010
Location: Col Heights, Va
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20 		  Quote Fweaky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 4:22am
I am running an HEI distributor and I did buy some springs and weights and played around with the advance to see if changing the total advance would help but it didn't. I even checked to make sure the distributor shaft didn't have any vertical play that would be messing up the advance. I would think that even though the distributor was sold as a AMC replacement and is aftermarket it should be pretty close to the set up I would need for a motor that seems to run and idle like it is stock but I may be wrong. I am just a shade tree mechanic so I didn't get too technical when it came to tweaking the distributor set up and when the changes I made made no difference I set it back to the original set up.
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Back to Top
poormansMACHINE View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Charter Member

Joined: Jun/28/2007
Location: Carol Stream il
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9298 		  Quote poormansMACHINE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 5:25am
Originally posted by greaser

Dont' know much about the later motors but are you using V belts or a serpentine system?
Serpentines usually require a reversed water pump..

 

AMC V-8s were never offered with a serp so only 1 impeller direction was used.
I ain't drivin' one of them inbreds!     NAMDRA #2923
Back to Top
Freecat1 View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted
Avatar

Joined: Jun/19/2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 381 		  Quote Freecat1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 7:20am
Are you running a automatic trans or manual?
66 American 290 V8 Wagon
Back to Top
xtm10 View Drop Down
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Avatar

Joined: Aug/12/2009
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 131 		  Quote xtm10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 10:53am

Hey, have you looked into Evans NPG waterless super coolant ? this stuff claims to raise the boiling point to 375 deg. and freezing to -40 deg. It's a little pricey but the website says it's lifetime, so it will never need to be changed . I know you already spent a bunch of money, but  if your engine is going to be running at 230 deg. anyway. With this stuff it would run at 230 with out a problem. Sounds like it might be worth a look.

 
Good luck
68 SS/AMX clone
79 CJ7 Golden Eagle 304/turbo400
85 CJ7 w/chevy 350
Back to Top
1750mopar View Drop Down
AMC Apprentice
AMC Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: Sep/04/2008
Location: Fordsville KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 29 		  Quote 1750mopar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 11:10am
Years ago my sister had a 74 Matador with a 304. She had the same problems. Had it to several mechanics and replaced just about everything.She brouught it to me to see if I could figure it out.Finally I decided to Knock out the 2 rear freeze plugs to flush engine out . One on each side. I took out at least a gallon of sand. Both rear cylinders were blocked completely. Not knowing if your engine is factory or rebuilt you might want to check. She ran the car with the air to Florida the following week and many more years after with no problems. Ray
1750mopar
Back to Top
Fweaky View Drop Down
AMC Apprentice
AMC Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: May/12/2010
Location: Col Heights, Va
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20 		  Quote Fweaky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 12:01pm
Thanks folks for all the replies. I think there may be a few things that I can try that will help. As Kevin stated more advance sooner sounds like it may provide some improvement. The freeze plugs are begining to weep as well so I can check to see if another flush may help. I'm not sure I want to raise the boiling point to 375 as I don't have a carpet on the floor and I have to hang my feet out the door now to keep from cooking my corns!
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Back to Top
tsanchez View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted
Avatar

Joined: Jul/09/2007
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1104 		  Quote tsanchez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 12:11pm
Take a picture of the fan/rad setup and post it here so we can see.


Back to Top
slownugly View Drop Down
AMC Apprentice
AMC Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: Nov/23/2009
Location: PA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 75 		  Quote slownugly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 12:20pm
what radiator are you using? i had a problem with a 406 sbc. they are notorious for heating issues because the cylinders are syamised. anyhow i started with a big thick griffin aluminum radiator. tried 3 electric cooling fans, electric with mechaical flex fan. nothing kept it cool at any speed or rpm. it would go up to 230 in the wintertime while driving. i bought an 87 corvette radiator. the thing was so thin i had my doubts but i put it on. i started with a regular 4 blade fan from a 64 nova. the thing cooled like you would not believe. driving in 90 degree heat stayed at 160. it would creep up in traffic but that could have been solved with an electric fan. moral is sometimes a thinner core radiator and a good flowing mechanical fan will suck the heat right out of the radiator
77 pacer 258 2bbl
72 gremlin resto 360 5spd
73 gremlin drag car
74 gremlin project
74 hornet daily driver
77 pacer wagon carlise cruiser
Back to Top
farna View Drop Down
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Avatar
Moderator Lost Dealership Project

Joined: Jul/08/2007
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2683 		  Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/23/2010 at 1:28pm
What ignition system? If it's a Duraspark you might want to try a new spark box. Look at the underside of that one first -- any signs of the potting material melting at all change it! You might want to try the GM HEI ignition module hack (http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/ignition-articles/492810-tricky-trick-hei-module-inside-duraspark-case.html). The GM module seems to be a lot more reliable/durable than the Ford unit -- which hasn't been produced BY Ford for a number of years now. The aftermarket boxes seem to be a problem.  A bad ignition box can cause overheating.

You know, on hot ambient temp days 230 isn't overheating or running too hot. As long as you have a good cooling system and it's not boiling over you're fine even at 230 -- as long as it level off at that temp and doesn't rise much/any more. Around 250 you're going to boil over even with a 17 pound cap. As long as it's not boiling over though...
Frank Swygert
American Motors Cars Magazine
www.amc-mag.com
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 7>

Forum Home Forum Home > The Garage > V8 Engine Repair and Modifications

 
Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down