I have had the radiator redone and the water pump is fine. It does not have a thermostat. I have been told I don't need one.
2006-06-20 14:22:17 · 9 answers · asked by chevy 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
For a car of that age, you should be running somewhere between 180 and 190 degrees farenheit.
And put the thermostat back on. Whoever told you you don't need one is an idiot. The thermostat regulates the temperature of the engine block by circulating the coolant at the correct rate. The old GM muscle is notorious for overheating and without a thermostat, you're not going to have a chance to save your block if the temperature starts spiraling.
2006-06-20 14:35:36 · answer #1 · answered by bracken46 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume it is overheating. Running without a thermostat can let the coolant circulate so fast it doesn't have time to be cooled in the radiator. A restrictor plate can be put in place of the thermostat to see if this helps. (Check Summit Racing or cut the guts out of an old thermostat). I would recommend a quality 160 degree thermostat though. Any colder and you will be getting condensation buildup in the oil. Any thing over 230 or if it is boiling over is too hot. Radiator cap pressure is important too. (15 psi) More likely there isn't enough air flow through the radiator. Do you have a good fan shroud with the fan 2/3 into it. Are there any air restriction on the front of the radiator. Does your engine have high compression? (10-1 or more).
2006-06-20 14:41:29 · answer #2 · answered by Jimfixer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume that you are running hot since no one ever complains about the engine running too cold. You do need a thermostat. It provides a restriction in the system to keep the coolant in the radiator long enough to actually cool down. If the engine is stock or mildly modified, I would use a 180-195 degree thermostat. Also if there is not a shroud around the fan it will not pull enough air through the radiator at low speeds to cool properly. Hope this helps. Oh, to answer the question, It should run between 180-200 deg.
2006-06-20 14:33:22 · answer #3 · answered by Jason z 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd better put in a thermostat. If not, it will just get hotter and hotter. The coolant needs to stop in the radiator and cool off. Get a 180 or 190. Even racing stock cars, people will take the thermostat out. I've done it both ways with my stock cars and it's always run better with the thermostat in.
2006-06-20 15:39:18 · answer #4 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
68 Chevy Malibu
2016-11-11 01:48:11 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did a 454 big block transfer into an 89 GMC safari mini van. I have the 700r4 tranny with the same problem could not bolt the torque converter to the 454 flex plate. To fix the problem I used a flex plate for a 72 chevelle 454 and my tranny bolted right up with no problem. the only problem I had was the torque converter will not hold the kinda torque ( mine being from a v6 converter) it messed up the fins in the converter so had to get a heavier converter to handle the tork of the big block. Your 454 will generate more torque then a small block could be the only problem I could possibly see.
2016-05-20 06:47:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Older smallblocks ran a little cooler than the later models -- 180 to 195 is what you should shoot for on your engine . Some of the later models ran as high as 205-210 !
2006-06-20 14:38:41 · answer #7 · answered by drdave427 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you need a thermostat.
2006-06-20 15:45:08 · answer #8 · answered by Niceguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
trany or engine? Is the malibu beefed up or stock?
2006-06-20 15:22:34 · answer #9 · answered by brown matter 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋