o.k. so my car is overheating it is a stock 87 NA. I have done radiator flush ( water flowed through freely) replaced thermostat... both radiator hoses..the water pump..and have gone through a couple fan clutches..( not really sure if they are good or not.. i can stick a plastic bottle to the fan with the car running and it will stop... never really seems like it kicks into high speed?) Im at my whits end. I live in Texas and it is going to be getting really hot soon.... should i dish out $100 for a new fan clutch or get a electric fan? Should i get a new radiator????

 

-How are reading water temp? How hot is "overheating"?
-Stock radiator?
-I like efans but if you can get a new thermoclutch for $100, that would certainly be your easiest and cheapest option.

 

Does it overheat when driving down the road or just when idling?

 

Hate to say it, but if you didn't to begin with you probably have busted water seals by now... Take the cap off while the engine is idling and see if the coolant bubbles or not (or smells like fuel), or try cranking the engine a few times with the spark plugs out and see if you have coolant there.

 

it gets close to the H maybe a quarter the way from the top.
And it mainly gets overheated when im stoped
And yes it is the original radiator
I will check for bubbles when I get home
Thanks

 

check to see if the actual outside of the radiator core is plugged up with dirt and debris, you should be able to easily see daylight through the core.

be sure you have the plastic undertray installed under the front of the car.

check your ignition timing, if it has somehow been misadjusted the car will run hotter.

lastly, run the engine for a bit and remove the cap to the overflow bottle. does it pour out steam/water like a steam engine? if so then you probably have bad water seals or if you're lucky just a faulty radiator cap.

 

does the plastic undertray really make a difference?

 

Yes it does, if it is not installed then most of the air will flow under the radiator insted of forcing it through the radiator.

 

Helps in cooling and with aerodynamics (i.e. it reduces drag at high speeds).

 

I seriously doubt this. There are only tiny louvers on the undertray itself, the face of the bumper is where the majority of the air comes in at. I have never had a problem without one on my N/A with stock radiator and my T2 with a Koyo. I'm not saying it doesn't help especially in super hot areas, but just saying something else seems to be to blame for the OP's problem.

 

well i had a fan clutch from a S5... so I put it on and I could immediately tell how much better it was blowing..( I know that it won't work because the dimple in the middle) but im pretty sure that is what the problem is... Now the debate of electric vs. stock fan

 

many people wind up having multiple issues. neither i or anyone else claimed it was the main issue, just one of the possibilities that compound overheating issues.

 

check to see if the clutch fan is working. if its not, replace it. there should be massive ammounts of air being pulled through at a stop.

flush the engine. not your radiator.

get a real temp gauge. come back to use when you have done all of this and have done more testing.