Overheating issues on a rebuilt 360

Before the Break-in;
> pressure test the crankcase to 3psi max, looking for oil leaks and escaping air.
> pressure test your fuel system to 5 or 6 psi
> pressure test your cooling system to 10 psi
> make sure the PCV is hooked up, and all non-used vacuum ports are plugged.
> make sure the pump and fan are correctly rotating for your application
> make sure the lower rad hose cannot be sucked flat
> make sure water runs out the bottom of the rad as fast as you pour it in, or close to it.
> find your IR gun; Don't got one?, Go get one
>and get your fire-extinguisher at the ready, not right next to the car dummy! If the car catches fire, you'll be back-pedaling in a hurry,lol and there may not be an opportunity to retrieve the thing. I usually get a helper to handle that.
>Install a restrictor washer in the stat house, so you don't have to deal with possible bad-stat issues.
>Run your garden hose into the top of the rad, and let it piss out the drain some,but at a slower rate than the fill rate to keep the rad full, so the engine has an unlimited supply of same-temp water.Do not get water on the fanbelt.
>Make sure the Vcan is functional, and hooked up, in a few seconds your engine is gonna need it

At Go-time;
> push the car outside
> know where your extinguisher is!
>Start it up, get the revs up, then just pull on the v-can until the revs stop climbing; leave the timing lite in the tool box! I mean it!


During the break in;
start the timer,lol
Leave the hood open,
Monitor for fluid leaks, I mean gas and oil,lol.
Monitor the engine temp with the stinking IR gun.
After a few minutes, push the Vcan back towards the firewall; when the rpm begins to fall stop and leave it there for the duration.
Do not get water on the fan-belt! it will slip and maybe it won't make noise.
Relax, everything will be all right.

Afterwards;
kick the fast-idle off or slow the engine down some, under 1000, then push the V-can back to lose 200ish
Take a breath.
Close the petcock,fill the rad,and shut off the water.
Take a breath
Now you can put the timing lite on her and set her to 14* with the V-can disconnected. Then set the idle speed to 750 minimum, and twiddle the mixture screws as may be required.
Take a breath.
With your IR gun, monitor the temp for a few minutes,as the rad heats up, checking for leaks and such while waiting.

Post break in
check the oil.
Set the transfer slot exposure
Millar-time.

If you have problems;
If you have a fuel leak; shut it off! Do not try to fix a fuel leak on a running engine.
If you have water leakage other than the petcock: as long as it ain't going into the engine or,flooding the fan, or getting on the belt; forgetabout it for now
If you have oil leakage, monitor it.
If the engine starts to blow smoke, something is wrong.
If the smoke is blue;
Pop the PCV outta the valve cover and let it dangle there.If after a minute or so the smoke don't quit, something else is wrong. You may have pumped the muffler full of oil, in which case, continue running it. But with open headers, continued smoke could be trouble, shut it off and think about it.
If the smoke is white;
shut it of,your engine is sucking water and needs to come apart.
If the smoke is black:
Shut it off and fix the carb.

It's best not to interrupt the break-in, but better not to burn the thing down. So if you gotta interrupt, just do it.

If the temperature climbs;
water in open air boils at 212 at sealevel. This engine has no stat and the rad is open. The water-temperature is governed by the ability of the fan to pull air thru the rad, and by your cold water running into the rad, and by the waterpump sending the water round and round. if the temp is rising;something is wrong, and you only have a few possibilities; either.
1) the waterpump is not circulating, or is spinning backwards,lol; or
2) the fan is not pulling air thru the rad, or
3) there is not sufficient water in the rad, or
4) the the water in the rad is not moving fast enough from top to bottom
5) something is wrong inside the engine
Do not wait for the water to boil before you shut it off.

IDK; I think I got it all