Hi guys
I'm looking for some help with my 1970 LS6. It hasn't been running since last fall and I've been getting it ready to drive for a couple of months before winter. I changed the oil, topped up the coolant, etc. I finally started it today and let it run for about 3-5 minutes. I then shut it down to check for leaks etc. I noticed the alternator housing was fairly hot to the touch. Wouldn't burn me but uncomfortable after holding my hand on it for 10-15 seconds. Is this a problem?
Both heater core hoses were hot as well but the upper and lower rad hoses weren't. The top rad hose has barely warm and the bottom was not warm at all. Could this be a stuck thermo? Or am I just paranoid?
Lastly the carb which I believe is a Holley 850DP(the original carb is stored away) doesn't want to idle. I have to keep given it little shots of gas to keep it running. It was like this when I bought it. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Steve.

The battery is probably low so the alternator was working hard to charge it up.
Bring the batter to full charge with a battery charger before you start it again.

The thermostat may not have opened in that short a time.
If the heater valve was open coolant would flow through the heater hoses and make them warm even if the thermostat had not opened.

Does it idle ok after it gets warmed up?

You may need to set the idle up a little or adjust the choke.

Thanks for the info. The battery is a new one that I charged about a week ago but it was sitting in my old 65 B414 tractor so it might have drained it a bit. I'll put the charger on it to check. I only drove it 5-6 times over 10 days last fall and if I remember correctly the battery would have to be charged when I got home so may have an issue with the alternator.
The car doesn't idle when it's warmed up either. The previous owner had the idle high to keep it idling. We turned it down because it was reving at like 11-1200 RPM's if I remember correctly. The carb was rebuilt by Holley techs like ten years ago and hasn't been driven since. Just started to keep motor oiled and to move it around. It has plenty of power and no hesitations in the power-band. I was going to mess around with the idle but was worried about the hot alt and hoses. Plus it stalls as soon as I let off the gas pedal so it's hard to work on it.
Any suggestions as to a good base setting to start with so it will idle while I go to the engine bay to adjust? Like 2.5 screw turns from closed etc.?
Thanks, Steve.

I'm going to put the charger on it now and I'm going to get the numbers off the carb and post them here in a bit. :thumbsup:

what is your base timing set at?

For the idle, I'd wonder about a vacuum leak.

A hose or gasket might have dried out and cracked.

The battery was low so I put on the charger and it's still charging. The carb on there right now is a Holley 4780-4 800cfm DP. It's too late to check the timing so I'll try in the next couple of days.
Thanks, guys.

What Verle said.

Steve,getting the timing set correctly and checking for vacuum leaks will certainly help out the idle situation.