!960 Engine still running hot

[Jerry B.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

Hello Folks. I Purchased One Of The Ir Test Instrument From Horrible Freight. Made In China,it Always Read 25 To 40 Degrees To High Compared Th A Candy Therm. Sears Offers A Ir With Craftmans Quality.

[Jack H.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

Some of this may be a 'cockpit' issue... When the ambient is VERY high and the engine is 'taxed' (climbing a steep grade OR sitting still at/near idle), you're pushing the cooling system's ability to remove BTU's from the engine block.

Seeing the temp gauge climb a 'bit' should NOT alarm you...that's the way things work. It's when the temp gauge climbs steadily and/or RAPIDLY to the 'danger' zone that you should have concern.

What's the 'danger zone' you ask? Well, it depends on the specific car, but in general, on early cars like your '60, progressing above 230F is NOT GOOD...

If you're in a grid-lock situation (stop/go traffic), you DO have some control. Consider reving the engine slightly (200-400 RPM should be sufficient). Why?

You'll be using the fan to draw more air through the radiator and force a higher cooling efficiency! Later Corvettes came from the factory with a thermal fan clutch that essentially did this for you by reducing the 'slip factor' of the fan relative to the water pump mount to draw more air though the radiator under very high ambient condition.

Later Corvettes ('70 and on), mounted a thermal switch in the RH cylinder head to monitor engine coolant temp. When these cars sensed 'abnormally high' temperatures, the temp switch closed and triggered either more vac advance to the distributor and/or fired a curb idle solenoid mounted on the carb. In either case, this resulted in a slight elevation of the engine's curb idle RPM to increase air flow through the radiator.

It just might be that there's NOTHING wrong with your car other than your expectations on how 50 year old automotive technology should operate... If that's the case, it's simply a matter of learning the 'cockpit' techniques of what to expect and how to compensate for abnormal driving conditions!

[Jerry B.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

I Too Have Overheating Problems With My 57. Looking For An Original Bottom Fan Shroud. Bubba Had Fun With Mine.

[Gary C.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

Jerry, Gary Mortimer makes very good reproduction lower fan shroud pieces. Gary....

[Bill M.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

Hello Folks. I Purchased One Of The Ir Test Instrument From Horrible Freight. Made In China,it Always Read 25 To 40 Degrees To High Compared Th A Candy Therm. Sears Offers A Ir With Craftmans Quality.

Hey Jerry:

My Horrible Freight gun measured boiling water at 212.

I quote from the Sears website:

"I purchased 2 of these Craftsman Infrared Thermometers. I used them to determine the temperature of the inside of my Sears refrigerator. It showed a temperature of 55 on one of them and 54 on the other. I called Sears Repair service and requested service on my Sears refrigerator still in warranty. The Sears repair man used his infrared thermometer to determine the temperature of the inside of my refrigerator to be 35 degrees. He told me my infrared thermometers were defective. I returned them to Sears, but they refused to replace them since I did not have my original receipt for the thermometers. Now what do I do?"

BUT...I looked at HF floor jacks, and bought a Sears!

Bill

[Jim T.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

Hey Jerry:

My Horrible Freight gun measured boiling water at 212.

I quote from the Sears website:

"I purchased 2 of these Craftsman Infrared Thermometers. I used them to determine the temperature of the inside of my Sears refrigerator. It showed a temperature of 55 on one of them and 54 on the other. I called Sears Repair service and requested service on my Sears refrigerator still in warranty. The Sears repair man used his infrared thermometer to determine the temperature of the inside of my refrigerator to be 35 degrees. He told me my infrared thermometers were defective. I returned them to Sears, but they refused to replace them since I did not have my original receipt for the thermometers. Now what do I do?"

BUT...I looked at HF floor jacks, and bought a Sears!

Bill

If you charged the Craftsman Infared Thermometers, perhaps you can locate your credit card bill or request a copy of your previous statement of charges from your credit card company if you can remember the month you bought them.

[Bill M.]

Re: !960 Engine still running hot

If you charged the Craftsman Infared Thermometers, perhaps you can locate your credit card bill or request a copy of your previous statement of charges from your credit card company if you can remember the month you bought them.

Thanks, Jim, but I didn't buy the Craftsman "quality" guns.

Bill