Hey all. New here. I have a 1973 Mach 1 with a 1969 429/C6 swap in it. Originally had a 351/FMX. The problem I'm having is that the car overheats at idle or sitting in traffic. It runs cool when moving.
I have replaced the water pump with a Weiand High volume aluminum pump with the backing plate in place, a new 3 core aluminum radiator, new radiator hoses with a spring in the lower hose, 6 blade flex-a-lite mechanical fan, I have a shroud on the radiator. I have tried 195, 180 and 160 thermostats. I'm using a 13lb cap. The head gaskets look installed properly with the square edge of the gaskets towrds the lower front of the heads.
I have placed a 12" puller electric fan on the inside of the drivers side fender near the front. My next step is to replace the mechanical fan with dual electric fans with 4600 cfm rating.
The timing on this engine is set at 5 degrees BTDC initial atm (6 degrees was standard until 1971). Any higher and I get pinging under acceleration.
If I start the vehicle and leave it idling the temperature slowly climbs until it overheats. Or if I'm sitting in traffic it will do the same. Then I get pinging under load again due to the heat. It has never boiled over on me. I did shut the vehicle off after it idled in the driveway for a long time while I was doing other tasks and the coolant was boiling inside the overflow tank. It has done that once. It doesn't lose fluid and there's no smoking at all from the exhaust.
Is this strictly an airflow problem due to the fact that the 1973's weren't designed for the BB engines? I know there is almost zero room in the engine compartment on the sides and back of the engine. The engine is almost up against the shock towers on both sides which makes doing spark plugs etc a real chore. If so will the dual electric fans which should hopefully push more air than the mechanical fan at idle solve the problem?
Thanks for any assistance.
I have replaced the water pump with a Weiand High volume aluminum pump with the backing plate in place, a new 3 core aluminum radiator, new radiator hoses with a spring in the lower hose, 6 blade flex-a-lite mechanical fan, I have a shroud on the radiator. I have tried 195, 180 and 160 thermostats. I'm using a 13lb cap. The head gaskets look installed properly with the square edge of the gaskets towrds the lower front of the heads.
I have placed a 12" puller electric fan on the inside of the drivers side fender near the front. My next step is to replace the mechanical fan with dual electric fans with 4600 cfm rating.
The timing on this engine is set at 5 degrees BTDC initial atm (6 degrees was standard until 1971). Any higher and I get pinging under acceleration.
If I start the vehicle and leave it idling the temperature slowly climbs until it overheats. Or if I'm sitting in traffic it will do the same. Then I get pinging under load again due to the heat. It has never boiled over on me. I did shut the vehicle off after it idled in the driveway for a long time while I was doing other tasks and the coolant was boiling inside the overflow tank. It has done that once. It doesn't lose fluid and there's no smoking at all from the exhaust.
Is this strictly an airflow problem due to the fact that the 1973's weren't designed for the BB engines? I know there is almost zero room in the engine compartment on the sides and back of the engine. The engine is almost up against the shock towers on both sides which makes doing spark plugs etc a real chore. If so will the dual electric fans which should hopefully push more air than the mechanical fan at idle solve the problem?
Thanks for any assistance.
