1964 Inline 230 Overheating?

[SayBye]

What's missing here guys? Should there be an overflow with a return line back into the system? Was there a factory fan shroud that's missing? It just started spewing coolant out of the radiator neck yesterday, its not bad, but it is doing it. The second picture was taken just before liquid began to spew...

[corvettejim1968]

I might start with the thermostat and the radiator cap. your shroud is in the front of the radiator just like mine.

[63burban]

If your radiator was filled to the top it will spew out the excess because of expansion, as long as there is coolant above the radiator core you are good. Also a new 7 pound radiator cap is a good idea. Another good idea is to check your thermostat, should be 180 degrees. Put the thermostat in a pan of water on your cook stove and check it with a cooking thermometer, should open at around 180, sometimes they stick, then a new one is needed. Your radiator is incorrect also, might want to flush the coolant system and install a better radiator correctly.

[jayoldschool]

That rad doesn't fit properly. There should be no gap between the spacer and the rad (look at the driver's side). Your air is going around the rad instead of going through it.

[cg285]

you may want to get rid of that mickey-duck fuel line before the hood overheats.

[T and S]

what is that rad out of ? looks kind of cobbled together.

[Jurassic-1]

Wow I thought the heater core goes inside the heater box! This might be a great place for a radiator. Out here in AZ it would overheat just sitting there. If that radiator is even slightly plugged up it will not be enough. You may want to locate a larger stock unit. I think the core support would be drilled for various applications.

[Heater63]

Originally Posted by cg285

you may want to get rid of that mickey-duck fuel line before the hood overheats.

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by Jurassic-1

Wow I thought the heater core goes inside the heater box! This might be a great place for a radiator. Out here in AZ it would overheat just sitting there.

looks just like the one I have on my 65' GMC I6 lwb I1500 but here on the Nor Cal coast it rarely gets over 60 degrees so runs cool...
I thought mine looked small after looking at my 66' GMC 2503's four core jobbie.

[jdl71]

I think the OP was actually asking if his truck was overheating due to seeing coolant spewing out. To answer one of his questions, no, there is no overflow bottle and return on these trucks. That radiator does not look like a factory Harrison, but it does look about the same size as the one that was in my 230.

[jayoldschool]

Had a closer look at my truck, and I can help. See the gap between your rad and the rad support spacer? Look at the spacer. See the things that look like staples? They actually are staples. They held a fiber spacer in between the rad and that spacer (that is on 6 cyl trucks). So, your air is coming in, and going around the rad. Fab something to fill that space. Aluminum, sheet metal, high temp plastic, an old floor mat, whatever. Just get the air going through the rad... and I bet your problem is solved.

[BOE]

i would also stand clear of that upper radiator hose. it looks like its over due.

[T and S]

Had a closer look at my truck, and I can help. See the gap between your rad and the rad support spacer? Look at the spacer. See the things that look like staples? They actually are staples. They held a fiber spacer in between the rad and that spacer (that is on 6 cyl trucks). So, your air is coming in, and going around the rad. Fab something to fill that space. Aluminum, sheet metal, high temp plastic, an old floor mat, whatever. Just get the air going through the rad... and I bet your problem is solved.

I just ordered a piece of rubber (2" X 36") from McMaster Carr for 10 bucks to replace mine. It is there but hard as a rock and breaking apart.

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by SayBye

What's missing here guys? ...

I would say you are missing a adequate air cleaner as well. I bet you get a cough every time you put on the gas.
Put a decent air cleaner with a good air sump and you'll have quicker acceleration without a bog if your carb is tuned right.

[1976gmc20]

I hate to say it, but my 230 started overheating occasionally and I finally figured out that it was the head gasket

OTOH, you can change a head gasket in just under 4 hours even with a pounding headache from a concussion

[old cruiser]

definitely wrong radiator. upper support should be bolted at hood catch , radiator cap would be on passenger side of that. Changing that would put the shroud in the correct position. Overflow catch system would be optional.

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by old cruiser

definitely wrong radiator. upper support should be bolted at hood catch , radiator cap would be on passenger side of that. Changing that would put the shroud in the correct position. Overflow catch system would be optional.

yeah...the top radiator hose is on the wrong side as well...