cooling problem
 

I just picked up this 84 non turbo.It was fine driving home for a while then it started to run hot. I got it home tried to get a thermostat no one had one. I removed the thermostat re started it with the cap off I could not see any antifreeze moving around it was full just not circulating . There was no bubbles or blowing out of coolant could the water pump gone out or am I missing something.Thanks

you have place one of your hands over one of the hoses to see if it has flow and preasure,also check the coolant to see if it has oil in it??

there is no oil in the coolant And I cant feel pressure in hose.Like in a normal car if the cap is off you can see the antifreeze moving.This one nothing.

i think you thermostat has gone bye bye

With the thermostat removed, you should see some circulation, I'd think... Seal the cap, and with the t-stat still out, warm the car up at idle. If it starts to overheat after a few minutes at idle, odds are that the impeller has busted off the water pump. That's also the next-easiest place to look.

If it doesn't overheat while idling, probably was your t-stat. You can verify it by driving it a bit with the t-stat out, since you've already sealed and filled it that way. If it doesn't overheat, definitely was the t-stat. If it does, water pump is your next-likely candidate.

If it was only overheating under load/at highway speed, it's also possible that you had a belt slipping. If only when sitting still after driving, the fan clutch is a possibility.

With the thermostat out, there's nothing to restrict the flow of coolant. If you don't see coolant moving, the water pump is toast.

Thanks to all of you I thought it might be the water pump.I just have never had one go out without leaking antifreeze out the weep hole. Just my luck the garage if full of motorcycles and parts and its 15 degrees and snow fun fun.

Well pulled the water pump it looks new. Back to square one.

Looks new, but does it work? Can you spin it with the pulley? Did the pulley even have a belt on it to begin with?

Possible that something is clogging the water passage.

Yes it spins the fins look good.The more I tinker with this the more I think p.o. didnt have a clue worse than me. I have another one that got totaled I am going pull the radiator out of it I just put it in it last year. The guy I got it from put this one in and it is rigged to say the least. I am thinking it is clogged up. Will have to wait till the weekend. Any ideal how to check the water passage. Thanks a bunch for all the help

had a previous car that would only get hot while driving at freeway speed..............clogged radiator, you can pull it and have it flow tested at any radiator shop. Have any used rad flow tested before install and save yourself a lot of greif. Just a thought.

Snivley

Thanks I will have it flow tested.

If it's plugged, the rad shop may be able to rod it out for you for less money than a replacement.

there is a bypass port in the water pump housing. when the engine is cold, the water pump is still pumping so this lets water get pumped around the engine, before the t-stat opens.

when it opens the tstat blocks off the bypass.

remove the tstat, and there is no reason for the water to go thru the radiator...

Thanks all of you. I pulled the hoses of today to get ready to put in a radiator. Its only 15 degrees here and of course my garage is full of motorcycles and a 13b all apart that I got with the car. So I am forced to do what I can in the drive way.I am starting to think its the radiator. I bought new hoses and clamps and ordered a 160 thermostat.