I have a '64 Skylark with a stock 300 / 2 barrel. It has a new radiator, timing cover, timing chain, oil pump, & water pump. I preformed all this because it was overheating (210 degrees). Even after all the work it still overheats! Driving at 40 mph brings the temp down a little but it is still too hot, as soon as I stop it goes right back up there. One guy at a car show said I should put in a thermostat that has holes or slots along side the thermostat center. This would allow fluid to flow through before the t-stat opens and allow more area for water to flow through. The idea is that it is not getting enough fluid going through the engine. I have checked temps using an infrared thermometer. The gague sending unit reads 210 while the radiator reads 197. I checked this after the engine had been shut down for a couple of minutes. Someone put an aftermarket A/C kit on this car and they changed the fan to a 16" unit vs the 18" that is supposed to be on it. The larger fan would have hit the A/C clutch. I can move up to a 17" fan but I will have to space it closer to the radiator and out of the optimum position of half-in-half-out of the opening of the shroud. I have a high performance water pump from TA Performance but that will require me to relocate the power steering pump so the belt will clear the larger housing. I would have to make / modify the mounting brackets - not an easy task. Anyone have any ideas?
210 isn't really that hot modern cars run that regularly . You don't mention that you changed thermostat. That would have been the first thing to change. . Does it have a fan shroud? And have you cleaned the condenser cor(ac thing in front of radiator) , the fan should sit just inside fan shroud and if shroud requires an 18 in fan that's what you should have. Actually half in half out should be pretty close to correct
The fan has to be the right size for the shroud. 2" too small could cut air flow significantly. Otherwise it sounds like you hit all the bases.
The bigger fan will not do much if the blades are not pretty close to being halfway into , and halfway out of the Shroud. Retareded timing which makes for lower cylinder pressure can hinder a motor in pumping the Exh out of itself. Have you mistakenly set the timing with the vacuum adavance hooked up while reving the motor up, or do you not have the Vacuum advance working. The former will effect the motors temp at all rpm, the later only at cruse Rpms. If the short block is in good shape your cylinder pressure should be good, have you checked it since installing the new chain and gears? It would not be the first time are replacement set of gears where marked up wrong!
