I am out of ideas and sure could use you guys advice on this one. I have a 1972 Chevelle with a 402 engine, MT and no AC. The car has always ran at about 210 degrees acording to the temp gage in the car. Lately on hot days in traffic it started to over heat on me. I took the radiator to a shop and found out it was a two row small block radiator. I wanted to get the car to run cooler so I just put an Alumitech radiator and a 195 degree thermostat in . I ran the car today and it still ran at about 210 on the gage. It was only 66 degrees at the time. Can a water pump be bad and not show any signs of leakage or any noise ? I know the radiator should have made a big difference but I don"t seem to have helped anything. Thanks for any ideas anyone may give me.

I believe if you bring the engine up to running temp, for you over 195, and feel if the upper radiator hose is hot and hard to squeeze that will tell you if your pump is working. You can also just leave the radiator cap off and watch to see when the thermostat opens. When it does you will see the coolant moving through the system.

first did you test the thermostate ? in a pan of water to see what temp it really opens at ?? & have you tested the temp guage ? I see temp problems all the time at are really nothing more then a guage problem or a thermostate that is not opening at the correct temp ... (I'm betting the temp guage is off )

I am not sure how acurate the gage is but it does go from the cold start position all the way up to 230 degrees . I saw this temp with the old radiator when it over heated on me. Even if the gage is off I thought I would see a lower reading with the new radiator. I wonder how often you get a bad thermostate from the discount stores? If it"S not the thermostate, could it be a blockage in the block? The hose gets hot and has pressure on it after the car has run for a mile or two so I think the water is circulating.

I forgot another thing, I am not sure how inportant it might be but there is no wire coil in the lower radiator hose. I was told once that that could be a problem.

I forgot another thing, I am not sure how inportant it might be but there is no wire coil in the lower radiator hose. I was told once that that could be a problem.

The newer hoses of todays market wont have thew spring in most cases
at hi revs and highway speed is where this will cause a problem
why are you running a 195 degree stat ??/ 180 or 185 will be a better choice
hi flow water pump is a good recomendation
where is the sensor located head or manifold ... have the rad shop hit the therm stat housing with a i/r gun after you make the changes ...see if the gage matches
Don