[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Originally Posted by bsblguy

Engine is stock with 85k miles on it when I got the car. I replaced the head gaskets as I suspected compression getting into water jackets. I am using handheld to adjust specs. I do not have a laptop.
Today I pulled stat and checked. It did not open so bought another and checked before putting in. It opened fine. Test drove and still ran hot. Removed water pump and ran water thru block to check for blockage. Water flowed thru block, heads and out thru stat housing very well. Replaced the Flow Cooler water pump that I had on it with a conventional cast impeller water pump. Test drove and it is much better. So much for $135 Flow Cooler water pumps. Should be called Flow Hotter.
Still runs a little warmer than the '76 TA I unfortunately just sold.
The hyperspark Dist. is computer controlled. No vac adv. I did have it set for 36 total adv. but lowered it to see if that was cause of heating issue. Right now target AFR is idle 14.5, cruise 13.8, wot 13.0. Car runs very well but not sure what AFR should be set to. And should I set total timing back to 36.

I'm getting ready to install a FlowKooler 11-bolt.

Hopefully I'll have better luck. I've done a lot of research and the worst case scenarios I've generally seen with it are that people see no difference in temps. My old water pump was a stamped impeller A-1 Cardone unit and the clearance was friggin' .200"!! So I know when I put on the flowkooler, ill see SOME change lol

Glad your problem has improved!

[78w72]

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

I'm getting ready to install a FlowKooler 11-bolt.

Hopefully I'll have better luck. I've done a lot of research and the worst case scenarios I've generally seen with it are that people see no difference in temps. My old water pump was a stamped impeller A-1 Cardone unit and the clearance was friggin' .200"!! So I know when I put on the flowkooler, ill see SOME change lol

Glad your problem has improved!

the water pump to plate clearance should be adjusted by the plate itself, not how the water pump fits. meaning you could have fixed the .200 clearance, although the stamped impellers are not as good as the cast ones for longevity. even the cast impeller pumps can have different clearances that will need adjusted by bending the plate.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Oh, yeah, trust me I know LOL

I just wanted to put a better water pump on the car, anyway, since I already identified the water pump on the car as an A-1 Cardone unit before I took it off. This forum brought to light the inconsistencies and quality control with Cardone back in the 2000's and 2010's; so I figured, the one on my car is probably garbage, so let me get a better water pump while I'm at it. Most of the reviews on Summit for the Flowkooler are positive, Butler swears by it, and the GENERAL consensus on this board is neutral or positive—so I went for it.

The Flowkooler I got came with their divider plate, and right out the box, the clearance was around .075" with the gasket added. I got greedy and got it down to .050" as recommended in Jim Hand's book. Pretty happy with it there. I'm installing it soon, hopefully it gives me better coolant flow at idle. *Fingers crossed.*

[78w72]

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

Oh, yeah, trust me I know LOL

I just wanted to put a better water pump on the car, anyway, since I already identified the water pump on the car as an A-1 Cardone unit before I took it off. This forum brought to light the inconsistencies and quality control with Cardone back in the 2000's and 2010's; so I figured, the one on my car is probably garbage, so let me get a better water pump while I'm at it. Most of the reviews on Summit for the Flowkooler are positive, Butler swears by it, and the GENERAL consensus on this board is neutral or positive—so I went for it.

The Flowkooler I got came with their divider plate, and right out the box, the clearance was around .075" with the gasket added. I got greedy and got it down to .050" as recommended in Jim Hand's book. Pretty happy with it there. I'm installing it soon, hopefully it gives me better coolant flow at idle. *Fingers crossed.*

just wanted to point that out since you didnt mention adjusting the plate. never used a flow kooler & honestly never had a problem with A1 cardone pumps when clearanced right, have one on a mild built 78 W72 for going on 12 years now, cant get the temps over 190 with a 180 t stat no matter how hard i try. same for a stock 81 301t. A1 pump & stock 4 core radiators on both that cool great.

i have a PRW brand aluminum pump with cnc'd impeller blades on a 500+hp stroker motor & a cheap price 3 row champion rad that also cools great in all conditions.

i realize every car/engine is different & its a mystery why some cars have such a problem cooling while others cool fine with lesser radiators & parts. has a lot to do with the tuning im sure. hope the flowcooler works out for you.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Originally Posted by 78w72

just wanted to point that out since you didnt mention adjusting the plate. never used a flow kooler & honestly never had a problem with A1 cardone pumps when clearanced right, have one on a mild built 78 W72 for going on 12 years now, cant get the temps over 190 with a 180 t stat no matter how hard i try. same for a stock 81 301t. A1 pump & stock 4 core radiators on both that cool great.

i have a PRW brand aluminum pump with cnc'd impeller blades on a 500+hp stroker motor & a cheap price 3 row champion rad that also cools great in all conditions.

i realize every car/engine is different & its a mystery why some cars have such a problem cooling while others cool fine with lesser radiators & parts. has a lot to do with the tuning im sure. hope the flowcooler works out for you.

I appreciate it.

Honestly, my cooling problem isn't really that bad. At speed, or cruise my temp stayed only 10 or so degrees above stat temp, but on real hot days it would creep up in traffic or at idle slowly but surely over 15-20 mins. A couple times it got up to 215 or so. I live in SoFlo.

I figured it was a flow problem since even if at idle, if I rev the engine and spool up the water pump, the temp would start going down. And obviously it would go down when I start moving.

No matter what, my clearance was excessive with the old water pump. So not only will I be putting on a new pump with a better impeller, but also a very narrow clearance. I'm excited to see if it makes any difference.