[flat tire]

Originally Posted by Steptoe

How many of our in car anolge gauges have we actually physically calibrated at different degrees....i1 actually know what each mark on the gauge ACTAUALLY reads?
you would be very suprised at the inconsistancy between the markings either side of the center mark.....which is normal on anologe gauges.

put the sensor, grounded and connected to the gauge, into a cold electric jug....with an accurate thermometer...turn the jug on.... then record what each mark on the gauge really is.....I have my sensor/ consol gauge vertical needle is spot on 180.
putting aside heading up in the snow line...mentioned above...
Towing/trailering one of my vintage cars, on a real hot day, open road up a rather long steep winding hill I can get the needle to get about 1 needle width above the center mark....100% stock cooling system except have a 12lb cap...15s hard to get in NZ.

i know what each little mark is
i have two stewart warner guages. one on each head. one mounted on the cowl and one under the hood.
when i started the car for the first time i borrowed my friends infred thermometer


the passenger side "head" was 5* hotter than the driver side due to the fact that the header tube is closer to where the guage is inserted. this was checked with the thermometer.
when i checked the guages they were both the same

[flat tire]

Originally Posted by Sauron67MM

How is your system designed? This topic comes up weekly on different forums. Guys with poorly set up electric fans or stock systems running hot. No shrouds, crappy shrouds, poorly installed shrouds, wrong fans, t-stats and on infinitum. Nothing wrong with a stock GM cooling system to keep your motor cool. If you hate the look of a stock system and install a shiny, glitzy aftermarket system, and it defies the principles of air and coolant flow efficiency, you can expect it to overheat.

GOOD POINT.
i have no respect for electric fans

[Steptoe]

There is another area that is so often over looked...espec if a cooling system is margial for what ever reason...
most of an engines cooling is thru oil tappet covers, sumps etc... hence why these often have cooling fins, painted not polished or chrome...
old saying "chrome for show, black for track."
Even things like polished water pumps can effect cooling efficiency when things get marginal.