my5thmopar
Life Long MOPAR Owner
This is what I learned trying to solve my small block 318 cooling issues. Now some of you enjoy seeing the same question asked over and over. Im sorry 
ops: if this takes some of the fun out of it.
There are also a couple of good cooling improvement threads that you should read when troubleshooting.
You are going to be asked a bunch of questions to solve the issue. The first is; when is the engine getting hot and what are you saying is hot? Highway speed or in traffic or cruising or other.
Then you are going to get a bunch of suggestions of do this or that. Im not trying to cover how to do all of this or that. Im just giving some basic suggestions.
Here is what I considered basic stuff. I dont think these are in any particular order but, covers several of the basics.
Get good temperature gauge so you know the actual not just Its above half way.
Get a shroud. If you have a mechanical fan.
Do you have a clutch fan and they do go bad.
Flush cooling system if "you" dont know how long it has been.
Check thermostat in pan of water for correct opening/closing. What temp is the thermostat?
Clean radiator and A/C condenser fins.
Check around engine and radiator with temp gun for hot spots.
Is the mechanical fan blowing air toward the engine?
Is the mechanical fan half in/half out of shroud?
Is the spring missing or is the lower hose collapsing?
Do you have flow when the thermostat opens and is the water rotation correct? SB is from engine through top radiator and out the bottom.
Correct water pump pulley diameter. A/C about 5 1/2 inch non A/C 6 7/8 inch. Depth is different.
Stock A/C water pump 6 vanes and non A/C 8 vanes. But some replacements are 6 for both.
Is engine running lean?
Is timing set correct for what your engine likes and what is it?
Do you have aluminum or copper brass radiator.
Thats all I can think of for now. Happy Cooling. Craig
ops: if this takes some of the fun out of it.There are also a couple of good cooling improvement threads that you should read when troubleshooting.
You are going to be asked a bunch of questions to solve the issue. The first is; when is the engine getting hot and what are you saying is hot? Highway speed or in traffic or cruising or other.
Then you are going to get a bunch of suggestions of do this or that. Im not trying to cover how to do all of this or that. Im just giving some basic suggestions.
Here is what I considered basic stuff. I dont think these are in any particular order but, covers several of the basics.
Get good temperature gauge so you know the actual not just Its above half way.
Get a shroud. If you have a mechanical fan.
Do you have a clutch fan and they do go bad.
Flush cooling system if "you" dont know how long it has been.
Check thermostat in pan of water for correct opening/closing. What temp is the thermostat?
Clean radiator and A/C condenser fins.
Check around engine and radiator with temp gun for hot spots.
Is the mechanical fan blowing air toward the engine?
Is the mechanical fan half in/half out of shroud?
Is the spring missing or is the lower hose collapsing?
Do you have flow when the thermostat opens and is the water rotation correct? SB is from engine through top radiator and out the bottom.
Correct water pump pulley diameter. A/C about 5 1/2 inch non A/C 6 7/8 inch. Depth is different.
Stock A/C water pump 6 vanes and non A/C 8 vanes. But some replacements are 6 for both.
Is engine running lean?
Is timing set correct for what your engine likes and what is it?
Do you have aluminum or copper brass radiator.
Thats all I can think of for now. Happy Cooling. Craig
