Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: 65Fury440]
#2564689
10/16/18 01:01 AM
10/16/18 01:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538
Freeport IL USA
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If it is really running that hot, would the thermostat really be cycling? Not if it were functioning correctly. I would change the thermostat on the chance its sticking closed, but if its really that hot, it shouldn't be closing at all. I'd replace the thermostat before I would replace the water pump. Two different gauges reading the same temp is pretty likely accurate. I suppose you could always check it with another gauge, but what do you do if that one reads differently? Which ones do you believe? Maybe you should add an oil temp gauge, that would let you know if the motor was really hot or not. 240 is hot enough to damage a motor. Gene
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2564814
10/16/18 01:37 PM
10/16/18 01:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,355 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,355
north of coder
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how "new" are the gauges, and are they quality ones, or just basic aftermarket units ? there is a super wide range of quality out there today, so just because two gauges read the same, doesn't necessarily rule out anything. at 240*, an engine may not smell warm or be hard to restart. lots of new stuff run 215* thermostats, and run all day at 230* or so. are there any other signs of high temperatures, such as pinging or paint discoloration ? the right coolant mix, plus a good pressure cap, will prevent boil over [puking]up to 260*.
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2565026
10/16/18 07:38 PM
10/16/18 07:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 72 LaSalle,IL
magnumautoresto
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 72
LaSalle,IL
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Digital gauge is an Auto Meter, mechanical gauge is a Quickcar,company owner by Lane Automotive in MI. Both in the $125 dollar range.Auto Meter is about 1 year old and was bought to check if car was hot.Only has a idiot light from the factory. Quickcar was bought 2 weeks ago to check other gauge. 180 degree thermostat. I have used 3 different infra red guns, all show about same. Never above 210 and cycle temp with opening and closing of thermostat. No Pinging, runs excellent. Paint on valve cover did come off but on top of valve cover not side by exhaust manifold, but is not discolored from heat, just looks like poor prep( no primer, just bare metal below) So, my question still is, is it really 235-250 degrees? Are gauges wrong or gun wrong?
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2565063
10/16/18 08:48 PM
10/16/18 08:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,915 Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,915
Calgary, Alberta Canada
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When I drove my 70 300Hurst to the "first" pacific nationals in vegas - middle of august !!! I had the AC cranked to max and temp gauge was reading 225-230F running down the Interstate at 75mph. No detonation, no pinging, no coolant pushing out the rad/rad cap. I do remember it climbing up going up the hills, to 250F . . .but again, nothing other than higher temps, once got to top and going down, temps back down . . . But hey, it was 120F in Vegas - who has a car show on blacktop then ?????
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2565102
10/16/18 10:12 PM
10/16/18 10:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Digital gauge is an Auto Meter, mechanical gauge is a Quickcar,company owner by Lane Automotive in MI. Both in the $125 dollar range.Auto Meter is about 1 year old and was bought to check if car was hot.Only has a idiot light from the factory. Quickcar was bought 2 weeks ago to check other gauge. 180 degree thermostat. I have used 3 different infra red guns, all show about same. Never above 210 and cycle temp with opening and closing of thermostat. No Pinging, runs excellent. Paint on valve cover did come off but on top of valve cover not side by exhaust manifold, but is not discolored from heat, just looks like poor prep( no primer, just bare metal below) So, my question still is, is it really 235-250 degrees? Are gauges wrong or gun wrong? IMO and you know it and your customer knows it's running hot. Got to know more to be able to start guessing. I think stock as close as you can get it best for mopar cooling. Sounds like your customer car cooling is stock. If so... What about timing and fuel mixture? I bet that baby is lean making heat. I have been to Vegas 3 times with my triple black 340 challenger with AC. It held up good all week idling in 90 minutes of vegas traffic at 5 PM and 115° in July. We took the car there 3 times and drove it a lot always around 110-115 day and night. I lean it out before going out west from Cincinnati including Vegas. I have experienced first hand the difference fuel mixture makes cooling since I have changed my jetting a lot over the years while driving the car all over from the mountains to San Francisco within a couple days of each other. What I learned from those Vegas trips was how much better having overflow container was than not having one. Without one I could sit there in traffic and watch my temp gauge go up and down as the thermostat opens and closed. It never overheated or even come close. It ran hotter than at home though. The second time back I had a factory original overflow on it. It helps keep your radiator a little fuller and gave me more cooling capacity. The thermostat was not opening and closing as often and the gauge stayed just a little bit cooler. Same temp and conditions and the exact same car. I also had the same car up and down pike peak 3 times, one time it was 95° in July going up that steep hot thin air mountain. The old mopar was leaned way down in the carb with extra timing and made it up that hill just fine. Sounded like motor boat motor at the top and would not spin the tires in the gravel at the top the air was so thin.. Was another ultimate test of my cooling system. When I went to start my car on top of pikes peak it sounded like someone stole my spark plugs the motor turned over so fast because of thin air. Stock does the job, I use a clutch fans and shrouds and all seals in place under the hood to direct all air through the radiator on both of my cars. The other one is 6 pak 440 that I have idled around at the Woodward Dream cruise for over an hour at a time in August. Won't brag about bonneville, 95° and 120MPH. It was crazy hot. In Out burgers, got to have a good cooling system in July in Vegas to do the drive through because every time I go there it takes a long time I guess because it is all made fresh.
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2565178
10/17/18 01:14 AM
10/17/18 01:14 AM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,096 Australia
ozymaxwedge
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,096
Australia
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Straight water with one bottle of Redline Water Wetter.
1963 Plymouth Max Wedge 1971 Barracuda
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Re: Is this 440 running hot?
[Re: magnumautoresto]
#2565801
10/18/18 08:39 AM
10/18/18 08:39 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 892 MA
steve70
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 892
MA
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I just had a very similar situation in my 71 Charger R/T 440. Temp gauge went above hot when driving but looked OK at idle. You could see the temp gauge move a little when the thermostat opened but as soon as I started driving it would climb to over hot. A laser temp gun showed everything was good and there was about a 30-40 degree drop from the top hose to the bottom. We checked the gauge by unplugging it and then grounding it and the gauge worked fine. My friend decided to run a ground from the coil bracket to the body and surprise everything worked great. I removed the battery and harness ground on the radiator support, cleaned it and reassembled and everything works perfectly now.
1970 Challenger T/A 4 speed
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