my redone 440 gets up to cruisng around 200 and creeps into 210 whille in traffic.
scared I will over heat but never has or hasnt puke up.
some people say should be 190 !
others tell me dont stress it -Big blocks run hot.
some goes up to 220 , not to worry so much. 230-240 is hot but not 210 ,
What is serious and what will happen if I over heat???!
new aluminum 4 cylnders engines blow head gastket and possible damage.
What about mt 440???????????????
i spend more time looking at my temp gauge than enjoying my ride...

Mine used to run 190 and creep to 200-210 while stopped, never had any issues, ran great. Had a 3 core modine rad, shroud and 7 blade steel fan. 220 for any length of time is getting too warm for me.

Mine did that until I added a fan shroud, now it's 180-190. At 210 it was crabby about re-starting. My '68 Charger R/T always ran too warm for my liking, and it was stock. Factory gauge.
The more pressure (radiator cap) you can put the system under, the higher the boiling point. You do not want the coolant to boil. 16PSI should prevent that.
Not sure what you're running for a cooling system, but I'd look at improving it. Venting the underhood heat (if you can) helps, but as far as I'm concerned you can't have too much radiator, fan & etc for a 440. Most of my 383s didn't run as hot as my 440s.

More info on what you have, fan/shroud/location of fan in the shroud/rad/wp

That's a bit high for steady temps.

i'd prefer to see 195 degrees or less. the late model engines handle the higher temps much better with their fuel injection, etc. carbureted engines don't tolerate the heat nearly as good.

I have a 180 thermostat and it WILL IDLE AT 180 - 185 all day long in 95 degree temperatures and the A/C running. Never had a BB that couldn't.

I'm in the don't stress camp. An occasional 210 depending on ambient and conditions is acceptable. I run a 180 Napa Superstat and it creeps almost to 210 once in a while in traffic, WOT runs, or hot days w/AC. Then cools down when moving or conditions change.

I wonder how accurate the gauges are. It seems like they vary. As long as mine doesn't boil over i don't worry about it. I also look at the gauge way too often.

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others tell me dont stress it -Big blocks run hot.

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This doesn't make it right.... Big blocks DO NOT run hot, unless your cooling system isn't up to par. Example, my engine doesn't go much above 175* even in traffic and 90+ degree days. I run a 160* thermostat, Aluminum 2 core rad.,clutch fan with a shroud, stock water pump. Nothing exotic.

220 would be a little hot for me. I'd expect it, depending on the build to creep to 210 in traffic but I think 220 is a tad high for what you discribe. 240 would be waaaaaaaay too high IMO. What shroud? what rad? what is your timing? You could also be lean. I'd think w/ a new build you should be around 180 at cruise.

In this heat I'm running 195 stats. The engine needs the temp it gets to 205 when stopped at idle for 15 min, key here is how high does it go if it only hits 220,then comes down. No older performance engine ever stayed real cool on a hot day at idle but they did not overheat. Pay attention to amount of antifreze you run, concerned about running too hot run a gallon of antifreze and rest water until the winter

Do you have an OE waterpump housing? Some of the aftermarket housings have restricted flow passages.

Look at this thread.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5957937&Main=5957877

...why 160 stat?
i thought an engine will wear quickly below 180?
maybe my info is wrong!

from previous posts on this subject...ALOT of people claimed 220 was fine....I argued just the opposite as old carb engines can't be compared to new FI cars with alot of emission crap.

I ran hot in My 498 stroker and fixed the problem , finally, with a 2 core champion aluminum rad, 7 blade steel clutch fan properly placed in a shroud. 160 stat and on very hot days I run 180 down the road and rarely top 200 in traffic.

If your car is running hot down the road, you most likely have a radiator problem...if in traffic, the problem is the fan sucking enough air through the rad to cool the liquid.

I fought an overheating problem in my wifes Toronado...

Turned out the fins were plugged up from dirt and bugs.. Make sure the exterior is clean and you are getting air flow through the exterior of the cooling fins and rows...

Yes 160* is too cold a stat it should be at least 180* to get the engine up to a good efficient operating temp.