Carl in LA

This post is to vent... my next post will be for ideas to get back on track.

So I get the 383 rebuild installed...

Get the 200 4R tranny installed...

Get the Griffin aluminum radiator installed...

Start and go on the test drive with all systems go...

and head to the smog check station this morning, and,

the Flexilite fan controller fails including melting the fuse holder, which,

means the brand new engine sees 260-degrees before the smog check attendent notices the gage and kills the test, and,

we manage to bypass the Flexilite controller to keep the fans running to finish the test, which,

fails because of too much hydrocarbon at both 15-mph test and 25-mph test (roughly 1300 rpm), and,

driving home with the Flexilite fans running nonstop because of the bypass... the engine temp RISES to about 240-degrees by the time I get to the house after a 10-minute drive!

I need an asprin and a beer - this 76 vette is going to drive me to drinkin'

Your condolences and solutions kindly accepted.

TJRed76

Carl,
Sorry about the hard luck. Be happy that you are working on your Vette.
My money is going to try to make my 85 suburban run properly. The forum is
currently the only vette work that I can afford.

Rather be bendin' wrenches than typin'.

Good luck,
TJ :seeya

BSeery

Dude, I know the feeling. I am just wrapping up my motor swap project and had the emission woes as well. ( http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=217369 )

The high temp and failed emissions is most likely due to inpropper mixture / timing. You may be running really lean or way advanced to be running that hot.
New engines do run a little warmer until they break in, but 240 with the fans is not good.

And anothe thing is the Flex-a-lites are only rated to 220 ish horsepower, which I am sure you passed a long time ago. I am running the same fans on a ZZ4 motor (355 HP) and the stock fan. Today was no problem, fans hardly even came on. But, it is only 60 degrees out. This summer when I am running the A/C and it is 115+ outside, it might be a different matter.

Check the spark plugs and make sure you are not running too lean.

Shutdown1

.....Speaking of "tough love," my Vette is also driving me to drinking. But so did my second wife and the Vette is still a lot cheaper.

'74 Turbocharged 350, "Molested to Perfection," class of '71

daily_driver

you sure you got those fans spinning the right way??

:lol: :lol:

okay stupid question i know...

but if your radiator is new ...(assuming new waterpump too) and you were running the fans all the time, dont see why it would go that high??

or maybe a stuck thermostat??

hmmmmm.......