302 over heating issues any ideas?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: chicago burbs
302 over heating issues any ideas?
hey everyone, im at wits end with this 302, its in a 64 so i know its not original, i bought the truck as a project and have no history of the engine,
i'm looking for ideas or stories of past experiences, anything that may help solve this situation
it fires up as it should sounds strong, pulls strong, drives as i would expect it to, however, blows blue smoke, and overheats in 10-15 min, at idle or crusing around subdivision, i've had the rad. rebuilt, new hoses, new thermostat (160 degree), electric fan with thermostat switch(works), new water pump, new 16lbs rad. cap, bypassed heater core, set timing and idle, and the rad. hose gets up to 215 deg. so i shut it down and the temp rockets to 250+ deg. which overcomes the cap and blows coolant allover the engine compartment.
i talked to a local preformance shop owner who said maybe the head gasket is on backwards? preventing flow through the heads and therefore cooling issues.
now that i have put the engine through this horriable cycle i'm afraid i've ruined it. and have since considered swaping to a 351w. i like the idea of more torque and easy 350 horses.
an input would be greatly appreciated.
i'm looking for ideas or stories of past experiences, anything that may help solve this situation
it fires up as it should sounds strong, pulls strong, drives as i would expect it to, however, blows blue smoke, and overheats in 10-15 min, at idle or crusing around subdivision, i've had the rad. rebuilt, new hoses, new thermostat (160 degree), electric fan with thermostat switch(works), new water pump, new 16lbs rad. cap, bypassed heater core, set timing and idle, and the rad. hose gets up to 215 deg. so i shut it down and the temp rockets to 250+ deg. which overcomes the cap and blows coolant allover the engine compartment.
i talked to a local preformance shop owner who said maybe the head gasket is on backwards? preventing flow through the heads and therefore cooling issues.
now that i have put the engine through this horriable cycle i'm afraid i've ruined it. and have since considered swaping to a 351w. i like the idea of more torque and easy 350 horses.
an input would be greatly appreciated.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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If you decide to pull the heads, you can check the valve seals. Stockers are neoprene umbrella jobs inside the springs. They start to get hard and crack the second you light it off.... For a few $ more, you can have teflon type seals put in if those are in poor condition.
I did have a "new" water pump that the impeller didn't spin on. Only when you really rev'd it did the impeller seize on the shaft long enough to cool it off, then back to overheat. So much for budget parts.
I did have a "new" water pump that the impeller didn't spin on. Only when you really rev'd it did the impeller seize on the shaft long enough to cool it off, then back to overheat. So much for budget parts.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: chicago burbs
i had some hoses to it somehow i forgot now but it was throwing water out pretty good. i'm very confidiant in the pump. i also like to play with parts before i install them just to see,
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
Try running it without the thermostat in it and see what happens. Cheap, quick test.
Pete
PS- I've seen thermostats installed upside-down before, and seen the same problem. Copper 'pellet' goes toward block.....
Pete
PS- I've seen thermostats installed upside-down before, and seen the same problem. Copper 'pellet' goes toward block.....
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: norman indiana
Have you pulled a spark plug ? Do they look normal ? Is the electrode round or squared off ? color ? I have never done it but was wondering if I accidently put a reverse rotation water pump on a motor with v belts , would it get hot ? It would be easy enough , some of these guys at a parts shop didnt know there was a differnce ? You can tell alot from plugs . If some plugs have alot lighter colors than others you may have other issues .Thanks rg
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From: norman indiana
As for the heat causing major damage ? Time will tell . Ive seen motors run so hot that they deiseled after being shut off for a long time .Took it to the engine builder just knowing it was junk and he put new bearings in it and they are still running it 3 years later . Then ive seen motors that have got hot 1 time and have had heads replaced . The only thing that worries me is the blue smoke .thanks rg
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