[steve meltzer]

I'm really stumped here, and would appreciate any and all help. I have a 427 SO, built by Southern, just installed in my Kirkham. The engine was run (by Southern) prior to my purchase. I doubt that there are 25 miles total on the car/engine to date, because of the rapid climb in temp, regardless of whether it's on the road or running in my garage as I try to sort this out. It has never (tho' it's had a short life) run properly. As noted, the gauge climbs rapidly to 90C, then continues to climb to 110C if I don't shut it down. Here are the other specifics, followed by some temps I took with my IR gun at shut down.

1) new radiator from Kirkham and all new hoses and metal connectors from them as well.
2) new aluminum water pump, Southern
3) 60/40 distilled water/DexCool
4) New Robert Shaw fail safe 180 T-stat with 2 holes drilled in, tested multiple times and works fine. The sensor faces the aluminum intake, the "tit" faces the overflow tank.
5) New and tested 14# cap
6) Ignition timing is about 34 (BTDC) at 3200 but even when advanced slightly, the symptoms are unchanged.
7) I thought that I had an airpocket, so I sl. opened the temp sensor in the intake, and coolant, but no air, came pouring out.

With the temp guage in the car at about 100C: (careful now, the other values are in Farenheit)
The intake temp at the sensor is about 180F (?? 'cause it's aluminum?)
The temp at the overflow tank's neck is 210F
The upper radiator hose is 170F
The lower hose is 130F!
and coolant spewing from the overflow hose is COLD!

Sounds like a circulation issue and that the radiator isn't even in the game. Could it be the WP, tho' not leaking, as is classic.
Help! thanx steve meltzer


When the temp on the gaug