88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

In the past week I replaced my heads with reconditioned ones with 1.94 I valves and some minor port work. I also ported the intake a little.

it is an 88 305 tpi as my name would suggest.

now that I have the motor back together something is wrong because it overheats in less than 3 minutes at idle.

I seem to have the timing OK (jumped A+B and set to 6btdc) and I dont hear any valve problems.

I did leave the cooling system empty for about a week, would this be enough time to develop a cooling problem from rust?
There is also a posibility that some sand could have gotten into the motor because some of the bolt holes in the intake had leftover media from blasting that I had to get out.
would this cause ring wear and then massive blow by or some other problem I am not aware of?
I am at my wits end here as I am supposed to leave for florida (from NY) today and I dont think Ill make it out the driveway....

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88 WS6 T/A 305 TPI--
K&N,Air foil,hypertech chip, thermostat+fanswitch
free mods, dynomax catback, urethane motor+trans mounts,
SSM SFCs, Bilsteins
very trick homemade ramair, Accel 300+ ignition system.
Planning: hedman 1-5/8 longtubes, NOS 150 plate, world 305 heads, replace the "peanut"! and other susp. mods.
check it out at:
http://www.geocities.com/transam617

Andy89RS

Did you install the head gasket the right way?

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Uh oh what do you mean the right way????

you mean upside down would cause a cooling problem???

That could be it although I would hate to tear everything down again.

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Uh oh what do you mean the right way????

you mean upside down would cause a cooling problem???

That could be it although I would hate to tear everything down again.

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Is there a right side up upside down to them??
I think I installed them the right way but if I didnt would that cause my problems?>?

Andy89RS

I'm no expert on this, but I've heard there is a specific way tehy have to be installed. If it's installed some other way it'll fit, but block a water passage. Don't go tearing the heads off until someone else seconds this idea / gives you another idea though...

1FastZ

I second the motion, I did the same thing when I rebuilt my motor. You are right, putting them the wrong way blocks a water passage and thats why it is over heating.

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

well I thank you guys for the help and I will go buy the gaskets tonight in hopes of actually geting the teardown rebuild done in another 2 days.

If anyone has another suggestion as to what my problem could be I wont be starting the teardown until tonight.

I cant belive I did this but at least I can ask you guys and get an Idea of how stupid I am.

iroc5speed

did you make sure to install your fan switch in the passenger side head? if not, your fan isn't coming on and your car is overheating. check that before you tear it down.

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'86 IROC 5-speed
305 LG4
edelbrock performer rpm intake
edelbrock 600 cfm carb
msd pro billet hei
'95 3.23 rearend
hotchkis rear suspension

Andy89RS

He shouldn't be needing the fan to come on within 3 minutes of starting the car though. In 3 minutes the thermostat wouldn't even be opening under normal conditions.

IROCZZ3

Some head gaskets should say "top" or "up" imprinted on them. If not make sure the passages in the block line up exactly with the holes in the gasket.

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1989 IROC-Z, ZZ3 shortblock with some bolt-ons.
13.20 @ 108.69, 2.2 60'

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Alright guys I have the engine completely apart again and I dont see any coolant passages that could have been blocked off by the head gaskets.
come to think of it I knew that this probably wasnt the problem because the head gaskets are symmetric meaning they have the same hole locations in either orientation. have any of you ever SEEN head gaskets for a small block that were asymmetric?>?
I cant for the life of me figure out what the f$%# is going on with this overheating...

could this be the water pump?? I can see coolant circulating in the top radiator return hose when it runs but the motor just keeps getting hotter. does this mean I have lots of crap in my radiator?? could this cause a serious loss of cooling power?? both the fans work.

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

someone please help me before I buy a cheap import.

------------------
88 WS6 T/A 305 TPI--
K&N,Air foil,hypertech chip, thermostat+fanswitch
free mods, dynomax catback, urethane motor+trans mounts,
SSM SFCs, Bilsteins
very trick homemade ramair, Accel 300+ ignition system.
Planning: hedman 1-5/8 longtubes, NOS 150 plate, world 305 heads, replace the "peanut"! and other susp. mods.
check it out at:
http://www.geocities.com/transam617

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Oh yea and when I put the motor back together I didnt fill the block from the themostat opening I just filled the radiator.
but when I ran it a couple times and checked under the thermostat it was full. I still think there might be a cooling problem like air traped in the block when I refill with coolant or maybe lots of crap in the radiator???

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

ok I got a new water pump today and flow tested the radiator and the guy said it was one of the best hed seen lately at 25 gpm.
The more I think about it the more I think that I had the timing wrong and fryed the new head gaskets. there was all these little yellow specs of stuff around and in the head coolant pasages when I just tore it down again. I think this means I had air pockets in there and they caused overheating.

Oh well well see on wed when I should have it fired up again.

any help is still welcome as I will not have the heads back on untill tomorow.

aquila

You must be getting cumbustion gas in the coolant to overheat in 3 mins. Some 350 gaskets will open a coolant passage slightly. Make sure you have 305 gaskets. Andy89 is right the thermostat probably won't even be open in 3 mins. If you have the heads off again you might as well check everything for straight and cracks.

88305tpiT/A

iTrader: (2)

Yes I agree that I might have been getting exhaust in the coolant. I think the initial cause of my problems was that I didnt fill my block with coolant initially and that I might have had my timing off somehow.

I will let yall know when I get it back together.