My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 32
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From: Calgary Canada
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
I just got the old 531 bored out to a 400 and whenever the thermostat is in, it runs hot. The rad is new, and the engine is new. The hoses are new and the thermostat is new. I have a really big bushguard in it as you can see from the picture on the left, but that shouldn't block too much air from getting into the rad. I changed the flex fan i put on it ( I thought it would fix the problem) but it didn't. THen I got a fan with a clutch on it off a 460 and it runs a little cooler, but not much. What could be wrong?
(whenthe thermostat is in) It runs fine when its cold and for the first little while then it gets really hot and I have to turn it off ot let it cool. Its almost like the antifreeze is not being cooled. Whats a possible problem?
Thanks
Billy
(whenthe thermostat is in) It runs fine when its cold and for the first little while then it gets really hot and I have to turn it off ot let it cool. Its almost like the antifreeze is not being cooled. Whats a possible problem?
Thanks
Billy
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Mount Prospect, IL
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
what could it be you ask?
* do you have the correct fan shroud on?
* Is exhaust too restrictive?
* does water pump work? properly?
* does water pump, pump too much water (cavitation)
* Is timing set properly?
* Did you have radiator cleaned?
* Is Carburator tuned?
* Are these the correct pulleys?
just some of the problems that can help to add heat to a motor.
Drew
* do you have the correct fan shroud on?
* Is exhaust too restrictive?
* does water pump work? properly?
* does water pump, pump too much water (cavitation)
* Is timing set properly?
* Did you have radiator cleaned?
* Is Carburator tuned?
* Are these the correct pulleys?
just some of the problems that can help to add heat to a motor.
Drew
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 32
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From: Calgary Canada
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
I have the shroud from my 351 engine
I dont know about the water pump but i do have a new one under my bed
The radiator was cleaned out
THe timing...its a brand new rebuilt engine, wouldn't this mean that the timing would be right?
The carb....ekk I dont know it runs on propane the the carb on it now is the same as it has always been (20 yrs old) But its always worked!
And the pulleys are all new
the belts are new
The exaust is custom I made it. There are the original manifold on it but RIGHT after the manifold I put dual exaust (leading off it) with flow master mufflers.
I dont know about the water pump but i do have a new one under my bed
The radiator was cleaned out
THe timing...its a brand new rebuilt engine, wouldn't this mean that the timing would be right?
The carb....ekk I dont know it runs on propane the the carb on it now is the same as it has always been (20 yrs old) But its always worked!
And the pulleys are all new
the belts are new
The exaust is custom I made it. There are the original manifold on it but RIGHT after the manifold I put dual exaust (leading off it) with flow master mufflers.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove USA
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-Nov-02 AT 04:34 PM (EST)]change the thermostat. And just because the engine is new does NOT mean the timing is right! Check the timing.
Now something complex to consider. I am just thinking out loud now...You had a 351 bored out to a 400? How much material was taken out of the cylinders? Too much material taken from the cylinders will make the waterjackets around the cylinders MUCH thinner, and the bigger bore creating a bigger (or hotter) explosion, and the bigger pistons creating more friction, thus more heat, and releasing more heat faster into the circulating coolant. The stock cooling system was not designed for the engine modifications you describe.
Think about a bigger radiator, stay with the clutch fan and replace (do not eliminate)the t'stat. Headers with a ceramic coating will help pull heat away from the heads and out the exhaust. Just to check, I would pull the brush guard. Looks like a licence plate or something in front the of the grill. That can not help.
Good luck
Now something complex to consider. I am just thinking out loud now...You had a 351 bored out to a 400? How much material was taken out of the cylinders? Too much material taken from the cylinders will make the waterjackets around the cylinders MUCH thinner, and the bigger bore creating a bigger (or hotter) explosion, and the bigger pistons creating more friction, thus more heat, and releasing more heat faster into the circulating coolant. The stock cooling system was not designed for the engine modifications you describe.
Think about a bigger radiator, stay with the clutch fan and replace (do not eliminate)the t'stat. Headers with a ceramic coating will help pull heat away from the heads and out the exhaust. Just to check, I would pull the brush guard. Looks like a licence plate or something in front the of the grill. That can not help.
Good luck
New User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
Try touching the rad to see if its hot next time. It's not hot then there could be a blockage in your cooling system somewhere or it could be that waterpump! You should touch the rad while it's warming up to for comparison purposes.
all alone in the world
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,038
Likes: 1
From: oklahoma
My 400 runs hot whats wrong?
since this motor is fresh, i dont want to make anyone mad, doesnt the 351-400 actualy have a head gasket that goes on backwards? i quit screwing with em back in the early 80s and cant remember for sure, seems like one head gasket went on in what appeared a backwards position. seems like the water flow was different thru the block or heads from side to side.
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