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Hi everyone, I have a 59 corvette. Rebuilt 283, rebuilt correct water pump, I had radiator shop take apart and clean & rod radiator, new thermosat (2nd one), correct fan, 2 inch spacer, correct shroud. It is 245 horse, 2x4's. The carb's were just rebuilt by Bob Kuntz. The car overheats after about 30 minutes of running in driveway. It is overheating, I have read all the archives I could find about this subject and know that the gauge and sensor's are not always correct. I am not looking to add electric fans or larger radiators, or even high flow water pumps, trying to leave car correct. Thanks in advance, I also noticed all the wonderful advise in this site. Sometimes folks do not post the fix, when I find out the problem I will post.
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Re: 59 overheating
have had similar problems with rebuilt engines. suggest you hop in the old girl and put a couple thousand miles on it. Tight engines generate much more heat than a 50k mile engine. of course, this assumes that there is no problem with ingition, coolant, or fuel systems. good luck, mike -
Re: 59 overheating
Scott does your 59 overheat when it is not sitting in the driveway? Does your distributor have a vacuum advance unit? There has been several posts about cars without a correct operating vacuum advance unit overheating.Comment
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Re: 59 overheating
Actually, if it takes it 30 minuets to overheat, a lot of folks would probably like to trade cars with you. What does it do in normal driving? I don't remember if a 59 has radiator seals like the later C1's, but if not they might be useful.Comment
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Re: 59 overheating
Hi and thanks for tips. It has the dual point with no vacuum advance. I can drive it around the block and I can tell when the thermostat opens, because it goes above 180 to maybe 190 then drops to 180 and then it goes all they way to 220 by driving or by sitting in drive way, after about 30 minutes. I am afraid to go drive it to far down open road, do not want to get stranded. Just checked timing again. One question though, where should the oiler tube on dist. be positioned? Mine is between coil and the carb. riser on alum. intake. Doesn't allow much room for adjusting, thanks scottComment
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Re: 59 overheating
I do not think 59 has a spacer between the waterpump and fan. The shroud for 59 & 60 are different and the 60 takes the spacer. Right Guys?Comment
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Re: 59 overheating
Scott, From my own situation I found it to be timing. I have a 327/300 rebuilt engine. For a while it had a dual point distributor without a vacuum advance. My mechanic friend readjusted the timing and all was cured. It sounds like you need more advance.Comment
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Re: 59 overheating
Jerry,
You are correct, the spacer is a 60 only item.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: 59 overheating
Scott,
As Ed says, I would be sooooo happy if my 59 could idle in the driveway for a half an hour before overheating.
I have a stock shroud and fan with no spacer.
I have sealed the various holes and gaps within the shroud and run a smaller fan pulley thus giving me a little more fan volume than original.
I have a new Copper 4 row radiator.
My 59 will run all day at highway speeds or normal driving at under 200 but as soon as I stop in traffic or idle for any longer than about 10 mins then it will continue to rise.
I did get HUGE improvements by getting the timing right.
In my case it is lack of sufficient air movement but if you are having the problem when driving as well then it may be other areas as well.
Good Luck.
My Vette PageComment
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Re: 59 overheating
I would first like to thank everyone who helped in trouble shooting. My problem was the 2 inch spacer & timing. The fan could not use the shroud properly being too far in it. I had bought the fan and spacer together and was told it was for a 59. I pulled out a 350 with flex fan, to install numbers matching 283. I should have checked my books. The car runs great and took my longest drive today, thanks again, Scott (member waiting for number)Comment
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