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Overheating... At a loss

ninnyGTP

ninnyGTP

New member
Ok, where to start. SE started overheating about a year or so ago (still L36 powered). So after replacing radiator, pump, t-stat, UIM/LIM, the works I gave up and just bought a new motor (L67). Well when I did the swap it was around winter so cooler weather. Figured the issue went with the motor. Well to my surprise she came rolling back around as soon as the weather temps started to rise. Bare in mind, I live in CA where it's not uncommon to see temps upward of 100*

So here's the situation. When Cruising on the freeway it usually stays around 210, until you start to climb, (and I mean the slightest of inclines) the temp will start to kick up, once it does there's no bringing it down. City driving, as you can imagine is worse. So I started from square one again, beginning with the cheapest first.

t-stat. Dropped to a 180 as it was still rolling on the stock 195 that came with the motor. No fix...

replace the LIM/SC gaskets. Well to my surprise, they had already been replaced and were in relatively good condition (still replaced of course), but still no fix.

Water pump. I removed the belt and spun the pulley and it was still very much ok, but figured **** it, it's under waranty. Popped in a new one, topped off the coolant and STILL no fix.

Hi-Lo fan switch. Even though I could clearly see the fans were on, I figured maybe having them on hi would possibly help. NOPE! It's like it was never even there as the temp still steadily rises. (by the way, both fans work)

My latest.. The radiator. Figured just maybe it's cause I was still running the stock OEM replacement GT/SE radiator. So I picked up a 1" core GTP one, this way I could also do a flush. Well I crossed my fingers and hoped for a fix but still no luck.

Headgaskets fine, no smoke out the tailpipe, no loss in coolant, I just don't know where to go from here. I'm gonna take it in this weekend and hope and pray it's cause there's air in the lines, but if anyone might have some insight on what you think it could be i'd greatly appreciate it. Also, sorry for the long ass post
 
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it sounds strange and i'm sure this wont be the end all solution to your problems... but do you still have that plastic lip that goes under the front of the car? it deflects air upwards torwards the radiator. it sounds like you have a deeper rooted problem... dont know what, since it sounds like you took care of.. everything lol but it could help if its not there.
 
You know, you're like the 3rd person to ask. When it went in to get rebuilt I never noticed until it was far too late, but the mechanic never reinstalled either bottom airdams. I was able to pick the back portion off of a junkyard car, but no luck on the front portion. As for the upper grills, started with the catfish bumber then I installed the GT bumper (another thing I was hoping would help with the overheating by actually having functional bumper grills) Even going as far as to get the grill dams found on 01+ GP's
 
well like i said... i dont know if its the one solution... i mean im sure it helps but i doubt its something that gm relied on to make sure the car stays cool.. well i would like to hope they wouldnt at least. but maybe take another trip to a yard or something. or if a buddy has a gt ask to take his lol they dont really need it. i had a gt and mine fell off... hate to say it but i just threw it away last week when i was cleaning out my basement.
 
Oh it's cool. I'm often at my local yard and a piece like that would only set me back $15. I want to try that and someone else had mentioned to me that it could possibly be due to a clogged heater core
 
im not a buff on the whole cooling system. i woulda thought the flush would have cleared up any clogs but its worth a shot. you using dexcool or the green stuff? and i would just check and make sure the air is bled out again. quick and easy to do
 


Are you going off of the gauge in the cluster? It's a possibility that it could be off, more so if you've put any type of inlay in it.
 
Just an idea...

Look at you A/C condenser and see if it has smashed fins or clogged with bugs and dirt. If you cant pull air through it then there is not going to be much air hitting the radiator as well.
 
Stock gauge still works prpoperly. I've hooked up a few aftermarket scanners from time to time and it's maybe a few degrees off
 
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