Overheating problem with Madeline

[mdh157]

Stan, this one is for you - and I'm not kidding, this just happened:

Went to drop off the radiator. Shop is in an old run-down bldg. Inside there is a counter, filthy, and a sign that looks like it's written in that junkyard-type marker only blk, not yellow, it says "ring bell for service". so i ring it, while i'm wiping the sides of it off this guy says, "there ya are. thought you forgot about me. Ya called yesterday, what took ya so long?" He's abt 53, big bomb hanging out of his mouth. He knew who I was, didn't have to say anything. He looks at it from abt 6 feet away and says, "That's been recored already." I said, "How do you know?" He looks up over his glasses, head still pointing down and says, "I'm a radiator guy, it's my job to know." He then comments about how it is too small of a radiator for a 440 and that even his 3 GTX's, 2 challys, cuda and belvedere all had a bigger radiator.

We flapped a bit more, from the way he spoke he knows his MOPARS, so at least it appears I got a good radiator guy. Of course, the jury is still out on the radiator.

 

[polara71]

It worked all those years, perhaps the shroud will help

 

[livininharrow]

I can't see in any way how an a/c condensor, plugged or otherwise, would have anything to do with coolant temperatures.

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seriously? does the engine fan not draw air through the condenser before it enters the radiator? the last time i looked the a/c condenser was in front of the radiator some times they plug up with road ****. . wow how much we tend to overlook . a plugged a/c condenser is overlooked many times. just my thought. and trying to help. think about it.

 

[detmatt]

But this car has no a/c... Are we still talking about this? It left the factory in such a way that it was driven many, many miles configured the way Mark bought it so the wheel does not need to be reinvented here! If you can find a correct shroud fine, use it, if you can't I wouldn't worry about it. The hose is a bit of a pain in the *** but I'm sure you'll find one that'll work.

 

[commando1]

think about it.

I thought about it some more.
Unless the condenser has become literally a solid brick wall........
Nope.

You're using the same argument as if a large piece of cardboard blocked the grill and you're saying the grill is the problem.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

My challenger has been like that for years gauge has always read high mechanical under dash looks like crap on nice original car but reads 205-210 with a/c and ninety degrees ir thermo confirms at upper rad hose into radiator 215 at most 90+ ambient gauge in dash solidly on H. My wife fixes it with a round.piece of paper c& h on it needle right in middle car never overheats but the gauge says otherwise yes I have changed, recored ,replaced everything over the 20 plus years except the stupid gauge

 

[mdh157]

i just found something else out.......according to the shop manual this car should have an 8 blade impeller, 4 3/8 diameter.......mine has a 6 blade, 3.5 diameter......perhaps this is part of the problem. strangely enough, the smaller one was put on AC cars......question is, can this impact the cooling very much?

also lists it as having a shroud......

70bigblock, I should have checked it beforehand with an IR thermometer like i was told to, but another lesson learned. on the other hand, the hoses, radiator are in need of repair/repl and the thermo and pump both have crud buildup on them so it's not like i pulled apart a pristine system.

picking up the radiator tomorrow.

 

[livininharrow]

I thought about it some more.
Unless the condenser has become literally a solid brick wall........
Nope.

You're using the same argument as if a large piece of cardboard blocked the grill and you're saying the grill is the problem.

dont remember saying that. what are u smoking? please don't pass that one over to me.

 

[Fratzog]

One thing that was missing from both my old cars was the air dam that goes between the valance and the rad yoke. It's an important part of the cooling system.

 

[Stormer]

Stan, this one is for you - and I'm not kidding, this just happened:

Went to drop off the radiator. Shop is in an old run-down bldg. Inside there is a counter, filthy, and a sign that looks like it's written in that junkyard-type marker only blk, not yellow, it says "ring bell for service". so i ring it, while i'm wiping the sides of it off this guy says, "there ya are. thought you forgot about me. Ya called yesterday, what took ya so long?" He's abt 53, big bomb hanging out of his mouth. He knew who I was, didn't have to say anything. He looks at it from abt 6 feet away and says, "That's been recored already." I said, "How do you know?" He looks up over his glasses, head still pointing down and says, "I'm a radiator guy, it's my job to know." He then comments about how it is too small of a radiator for a 440 and that even his 3 GTX's, 2 challys, cuda and belvedere all had a bigger radiator.

We flapped a bit more, from the way he spoke he knows his MOPARS, so at least it appears I got a good radiator guy. Of course, the jury is still out on the radiator.

That's just how it went with my brake booster rebuild for my 72 Imp. Filthy, completely disorganized looking shop but you knew instantly that they what they're doing.

 

[polara71]

One thing that was missing from both my old cars was the air dam that goes between the valance and the rad yoke. It's an important part of the cooling system.

Excellent point Fred

 

[detmatt]

Yeah that's another important piece to the whole equation. Don't give the air anywhere to go but through the rad..

 

[commando1]

Hmmm. I should put mine back on then....

 

[mdh157]

One thing that was missing from both my old cars was the air dam that goes between the valance and the rad yoke. It's an important part of the cooling system.

What air dam? is thsi car supp to have one? got a pic?

 

[mdh157]

do you guys mean the cardboard-like pcs on the bottom that attached to the valence and yoke? if so, one of mine is missing. i'll take a pic later.

and i have no idea where I would get replacements for that, i'm sure it is not a repro'ed part and finding a good used one is a lost cause.

 

[polara71]

It is all one piece Mark which means yours is broken. That part is like the A arm shields and is/was reproduced

 

[detmatt]

If you look close you can see the one on this hood and its from the same car....

 

[commando1]

Never mind. I thought you were talking about the front splash shield that covers the gap between the bumper and the lower radiator support.

 

[1978 NYB]

Never mind. I thought you were talking about the front splash shield that covers the gap between the bumper and the lower radiator support.

That is the important one...........

 

[mdh157]

so did I.........i don't see any air dam there Matt!

just got back with my rad.....guy said it had decent flow before, is better now of course, he says if it doesn't correct the problem I should pull it and bring it back and he will reverse the outlet hole to the other side of the tank, he thinks due to the hole locations and maybe the baffle not working like it should that there can be a significant diff between the temp on one side of the rad and the other. He said he'd like to see it in and running and what the temp is with an IR laser. Chris must've called this guy and told him what he told me!

anyway, we will see once i get the other parts......nothing but junk locally so i have to go elsewhere for a pump and thermo housing.

to be continued...