Gents, I'm changing the subject of this thread because I had my main question answered and because I suspect my sub-question will continue to be debated.
Smitty, I appreciate your input, but I simply can't believe that anything over 200 is dangerous. Perhaps you were running straight water with a low pressure cap. I drove my Elky down from Seattle to Tucson in May with just the warning light, and it came on once while stuck in Las Vegas traffic. It was hot that afternoon. I never lost coolant with the pressure cap (16 lb) and I do not have a cracked head or blown head gasket. The car ran fine cruising on the highway and it still does (great with the HEI distributor I put in down here.) When I arrived in Tucson, I put the gauge in and noted that in the heat of the day it would run at 230, way too hot, and more when stopped at a light. But that experience told me that the warning light probably didn't come on until 240 or 245. Why would it: you won't begin to lose coolant until what, 250? I never did. The aluminum crossflow rad I installed brought temps down 20 or more degrees. I agree that sustained high-speed driving at elevated temperatures is hard on the engine. I simply want input on what that point is. Perhaps more directly, I suppose I need information from other desert dwellers how hot their vehicles run under load in the heat of the day. This information will let me decide whether I need a high-flow water pump or other improvements. I haven't had the chance to seek out the local car clubs, but that is probably where I should look. Finally, I simply refuse to believe given my experience that the venerable 283 is as delicate as Smitty warns. A 20-degree operating range is absurd for an engine rebuilt with late-80s head gasket technology. Or so I hope. :-) Respectfully, Tim Moebes 66 El Camino -----Original Message----- Dan and Tom. I've owned many a chevelle and the 283 called for a 180 degree Thermostat. If your temp goes over 200 you could have boiling and steam, this a warning to stop and let your enigine cool down. We use to leave the engine running and spray water into the front of the Radiator until she cooled down enough to get the Rad. cap off (NEVER add water to a HOT engine with the motor turned OFF, This will surely crack you block), covering the cap to keep from getting yourself burnt, then we would add water to top her off. You reach the 220 mark and you've cooked the head gasket and probably cracked a head as well. Hope this will help, Smitty in SC ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
