west coast cobra running hot

[Garage10]

Any of you west coast owners out there have trouble with your car running real hot ? What did you do to correct it ?
Thanks
Brent

[GlynMeek]

Brent...

How hot? What are the conditions under which it runs hot? All the time, in traffic, driving hard, when it is 'hot' outside???? Has it ALWAYS run hot, or have you changed something?

[Garage10]

Hi Glyn
Car is running 220 in town, stop and go,idle with ambient 82F. Hasn't boiled over yet but it hasn't been hot out yet either. I am scared it will when it get's hotter out. Has always run hot. This is it's first summer on the road so hasn't seen above 82F outside yet. Just would like info from fellow west coast owners with similar setup.
Thanks
Brent

[xlr8or]

Regardless of brand you will need/want to maximize airflow through the radiator.

Shrouding the front and shrouding a puller fan will help maximize it. You can lower the thermastat to a lower temp so it will open sooner. If you aren't running the bypass hose from the water pump to the intake, add that to see if increased flow helps.

[FWB]

Originally Posted by Garage10

Hi Glyn
Car is running 220 in town, stop and go,idle with ambient 82F. Hasn't boiled over yet but it hasn't been hot out yet either. I am scared it will when it get's hotter out. Has always run hot. This is it's first summer on the road so hasn't seen above 82F outside yet. Just would like info from fellow west coast owners with similar setup.
Thanks
Brent

the numbers you state seems to be exactly where my car was running.
the gasoline seems to be my problem, maybe yours too?
just by adding good octane boost problem solved.

http://www.kemcooil.com/products.php?cId=4
i use it religiously it works.

[tcrist]

Putting in a lower degree thermastat does not always work. If the thermastat opens before the radiator has a chance to cool the coolant, then the car will run hot.

Terry

[jmacanderson]

I have had the same problem with my West Coast. I have one of the 550 hp crate 460's. I have tried 160, 190, and now 180 degree thermostat. I have a shroud over my puller fan but it does not do enough at idle. If I am able to keep air moving thru the radiator I can maintain 190-200 degrees. But if I hit a few lights it gets hot quick. (210-215)

I have never had a problem with ambiant temps as low as 82. My problems usually start with outside temps around 100.


I took it into a radiator shop to see if they thought some pusher fans would help. I was told that temps of up to 215 would not hurt the engine. But I still hate seeing it over 200. Anyone disagree with 215 being ok for a 460?

[Danr55]

I'm puzzled. My motor runs around 200-210 normally. That's in Arizona with ambient being around 125-140 on the highway. Most new motors are set to run 190-210. If you sit in traffic and the temp goes over about 220, the install a constant speed electric fan. Mine works wonders for keeping the temp even.

[Bartruff1]

Does it cool rapidly (in minutes) when you can get in a higher gear and move some air thru it ?? If so, I would'nt worry, but avoid those conditions. It could be the timing...the gas but if it was that, I think it would desiel (continue to run) when you shut it off. The originals were really...really bad in slow traffic and would roast your feet in a short amount of time...Cobra's of any bite, like the open road and cool weather....

[Garage10]

HI guys
Thanks for the replies.
xlr8r- I have a shroud and electric fan and running bypass with restrictor.
FWB- do you have the original wcc cooling setup with hoses all over ? I can't imagine that octane could have that much affect ?
tcrist- I had a 190 but switched to a 180. Didn't help
jmacanderson- Did you put on pusher ? did it help? do you have stock wcc cooling system with hoses all over?
bartruff1- it takes quite awhile to cool on highway but does go down to 195. Car does diesel at s/d. Timing is ok.

[Rwillia4]

I use redline water wetter in all of my cars. I don't know what is in there but it does the job!!

[FWB]

Originally Posted by Garage10

HI guys
Thanks for the replies.
xlr8r- I have a shroud and electric fan and running bypass with restrictor.
FWB- do you have the original wcc cooling setup with hoses all over ? I can't imagine that octane could have that much affect ?
tcrist- I had a 190 but switched to a 180. Didn't help
jmacanderson- Did you put on pusher ? did it help? do you have stock wcc cooling system with hoses all over?
bartruff1- it takes quite awhile to cool on highway but does go down to 195. Car does diesel at s/d. Timing is ok.

the short answer is yes, hoses all over, there are two extra 5\8 hoses going
into the radiator besides the upper and lower hoses, one goes to the coolant
tank and the other.....i think goes to the wp. i will post a pic of my coolant
tank in my gallery, mines a 1979 so there might be some differences.
honestly the gas at the pump really sucks. if i dont put in the additive i heat
up alot. i go 220 at a light without additive 180 with
the other guys with cobra replicas have to realize the west coasts and kellisons are much different than the other kits in size including engine
compartment and frames my car weighs in at 3440 lbs. its longer, wider,
the design was the second cobra kit ever made arntz was first then kellison
west coast is a kellison design, bought out by vern in 1981 or 82.

[Garage10]

Thanks FWB
I will try some octane boost

[Blas]

First, are you using a bug and rock screen in front of your radiator? If yes, is it standard window screen? If yes, remove it and see if it changes the temp at all...Could the cooling system have trapped air in it? Was the thermostat installed with the little hole on the flange on the top? Is the lower hose off the water pump kinked? Fans: which way are the moving the air? They should be pulling air into the engine compartment thru the radiator...Are they both turning in the same direction? Timing...big advance? Using antifreeze? Water-wetter? Verify your temp gauge is registering properly...Answer is somewhere in these posts from everyone.

[FWB]

west coasts come with a cast grille i don't think i have ever seen window screen
in a grille opening. not saying it hasn't been done, just seems a little weird.
the trapped air is legit in most cases, but the strange hose setup these cars have purges trapped air quite efficiently. the lower hose is normally only
a couple inches long in two places its mostly a metal pipe.
now that i am recalling my heating problems, the factory water valve for the heater was leaking (its a plastic piece of sh bypass the heater hoses
for the heat temporarily and see if the temp goes down if so you have a leak
of pressure,in the valve or heater core. this sounds dumb but have you checked
the rad cap for deterioration?

[Garage10]

Hi Blas- No screen, just clean new rad. Could have trapped air but think I have it all out.Hole is on top 180 deg thermostat.Lower hose going to pump seams to have slinky slightly kinked but doesn't appear to be collapsing when I watch it running.I am replacing with coolflex hose. Car gets to 230F while sitting idling.single 16" puller fan working correct on 23"x16" 4 core aluminum rad. No pusher.timing 14 initial 35 total.using 30% antifreeze with 1 bottle water wetter. West coast comes with two temp gauges that are fairly similar in temp.
FWB- I will have to check out the heater thing. The rad cap is new and seams fine.
Thanks to all

[Tom Wells]

Brent,

Any chance your engine is extra lean at idle? Headers glow in the dark at idle? Plugs read too hot? Check A/F ratio at idle...

Plate in place behind water pump?

Air in system is my major bug - takes 5-6 cycles to remove; still have to "burp" hoses multiple times to get it all out.

Grasping at straws,

Tom

[FWB]

[.timing 14 initial 35 total.using 30% antifreeze with 1 bottle water wetter.
Thanks to all[/quote]

too much timing if you are running pump gas.
go back to 32 total. you are detonating thats why its getting hot.
set the timing for total, set it at 3000 rpm.
you will notice a loss in seat of the pants performance.

[Garage10]

Hi Tom- sorry to sound stupid. What do you mean by plate behind water pump ? I am thinking also that I am not getting the air out. Will keep trying. I don't have bungs to check A/F

FWB- I will try lowering timing
I sure appreciate everyones help. This is a very frustrating problem. Not much fun worrying that I might wreck something or get stranded sometime (Cause traffic Jam)
Thanks

[Steve Gallegos]

Mine is the opposite, in traffic the engine cools, on the freeway the temp goes up. I may try a spacer to keep the water in the radiator longer to cool it.