Jim:
You don't say in your note what you have already tried to fix
the problem.
Have you replaced the thermostat? Have you drained and flushed the
radiator, replacing the coolant with a fresh 50-50 mix of
antifreeze/water?
Is your fan shroud intact? Is it in good condition? If not,
install one. Is your radiator cap in good condition? Have you tried
replacing it? (The cap is a long shot based on the symptoms you
describe, but it is cheap and easy...)
Are there any bubbles in the coolant if you idle it with the
radiator cap off (when cool)? Are you seeing any white smoke from the
exhaust? If so, you have a blown head gasket...
Take care of the basics before you start thinking about
upgrading the water pump. Odds are it is something basic, and modifying
the water pump would only be a band aid. Besides, if you spin the water
pump too fast, it will cavitate and overheat when cruising. =:-(
Cheers,
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Jim Jones
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 7:34 AM
To: 6pack
Subject: overheating issue
My 72 '6 has dual SU's and headers. It runs VERY well, except that it
tends to overheat when idling in traffic. (Imagine that - a British car
that overheats!) It has an electric cooling fan with an override switch
that allows me to turn it on manually, which I do in that situation.
Still, the temp guage goes up pretty blasted fast.
I am reluctant to mess with the timing and advance because it runs so
well otherwise. The water pumps seems okay - no noises. The previous
owner had the radiator rebuilt. I am thinking that putting a different
pulley on the water pump to make it turn faster would help. Anybody have
experience with this? Any opinions? Any shameless self-promotion of
parts that would solve this problem?
<snip>
Jim Jones
'72 Emerald
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