Since I adjusted my timing and idle ive been running quite a bit hotter. It would usually run around 200-210 on really hot days but the other night it was nice out (70 degrees), and it was cooking up to about 245, its never gotten that hot. My radiator cap is one of those weird ones, it has a spring looking thing with a little probe dangling from it, its about 1.5 yr old... looks a little warped.. maybe thats throwing things off as well?

Phil,if the rad cap looks questionable replace it with a new 15-16lb cap because a cap that leaks pressure can make a motor run hotter.

Whats your 461 motor setup(comp/carb/heads/etc),gears,and cam specs?

On to the timing,which way did you go retartd/advance what?

Where is the intial timing set and whats the total after the inital is set?

If you running any kind of non stock perf cam most of them like approx 16-18 deg btdc intial timing & 36-38 deg btdc total.

Also,most street perf motors can benefit from a vacuum advance on the street,are you running one?

Scott

Yea, chuck the cap and get a new one from one of the repro houses like NPD. I'm not so sure I would jump to any conclusions just because I saw a 245 temp. Is it consistently doing this? I always tell folks to read the chassis service manual cooling section. This manual is pretty forgiving when it comes to higher temperatures. Also, your meter and sensor could have read funny. Monitor the situation (obviously).


Scott asks some really good questions. Timing can throw a engine temp way off.

I changed the rad. cap and its made a slight difference. When I was playing with my timing (without a timing light) im not sure if I advanced it too much. Is Advance clockwise, or counter? It runs alot better now as far as fuel/air and idle but I think whichever way advance or retarding my timing... would help run cooler is what I need to do... im just not sure! And no I still havent gotten a timing light :)

Phil,you have got to either buy or borrow a timing light and have someone show you how to chk/set the inital & total timing,its very important.

Buy a timing tape with dergess marked on it for the particular ballencer size on you motor.

Turning the dist counterclockwise advances the timing,clockwise retards it.

After you get a timing light check & set the timing as i stated in above post which should be a good starting point.

Good luck....Scott

Damn.. I think my balancer has a marker built into it. I'll check things out.. for the time being can I do anything to cool her down?

for the time being can I do anything to cool her down?

Yes, do as Scott said and set your timing! You've stated that the overheating started when you changed your timing without a light. The way I see it, your choices are: 1, get a light, 2. pay someone with a light (will probably cost about the same as buying a light), 3, park the car and buy another with correct timing :).

Yea bro, you got to buy a timing light. Timing a thing by look/feel is shooting yourself in the foot. I'm guessing you retarded the timing and that is your problem. I WOULD NOT drive the car until you get a timing light on it. Make sure you disconnect the vacuum advance and plug the hose before you time the car. And after you do this, you will need to check the dwell and possibly reset the idle. And then recheck everything again!!! I bought a craftsman engine analysis tool like a million years ago, go buy one if you don't have one. It will do battery, dwell, RPM, points and alternator tests. Think it costs around 50? I probably paid half that many years ago.

And after you do this, you will need to check the dwell and possibly reset the idle.

I was always taught to set the dwell first. If you set the timing first, then change the dwell it can change the timing because it is causing the points to open and close earlier or later depending on which way it was off. Changing the dwell will effect the timing, but I am sure that changing the timing does not effect the dwell.

Tim is right...dwell adjustment will change the timing , timing adjustment will have no effect on the dwell

Also, make sure your fan is the correct distance from your rad - I believe 1.5" is the norm, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken. You may need to pick up a spacer.

Fan is an electric 17" its less than 2" away, pretty close. Just right... I think the main thing lies in my timing, I'll shop around for a timing light or loaner.