02 Xtreme Cooling issue (Shed some light)

[gcgxplosv1216]

I just bought this truck less than a month ago, 80,000 miles on and now I am having cooling issue. Can someone help. The truck has a 4.3, auto tranny and oil cooler. I have removed the Dexecool, I have changed the waterpump, I have installed the Hayden Sever Duty Clutch fan and also installed a 160 thermostat, flushed the radiator twice, and it now flows Texaco Havoline Coolant, used a hydrometer to test the coolant. Temps with the AC off usally around 180-200 in this Texas heat and humidity. When the AC is on the temps shoots to 210 -220 easy and when you shut it off the coolant surges back into the water bottle. WTF, I can't figure it out, I can't really drive it for fear of damaging the drive train due to heat. Some asy it's the head gaskets, but there is no water oil mixtue, some say it's the radiator & fan and that I should get a new one. What fan to buy, it there a better radiator to buy than the stock one? Please help:confused:

[T Man]

All that work..have you replaced the cap?

My .02 yank the 160deg stat if you can (if you arent running a programmer) and put a 180 in there

[Chrisvich]

Have you made sure that there is no air pockets trapped within the coolant system/lines when you changed everything.

[gcgxplosv1216]

T-Man, thanks for the reply, but will that help my cooling problem?:confused:

[Chrisvich]

Yes....it needs to maintain pressure

[T Man]

possibly.

For every pound the cap holds, it raises the boiling point 5 deg. I believe we have 16 pound caps...you can see the importance. Have you ever noticed any collapsed hoses?

[Hammer Head]

I agree.. pull the 160 thermostat & put a 180 in. Also are you sure you installed the thermostat correctly & not upsidedown?

[blacks10]

http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/07/43/14/9b_1_b.JPG
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gifhttp://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif
http://i11.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/40/22/7c_1.JPG
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif
if you guy's want a better radiator you could get lucky 239.00 shipped, or 325 + 39.00 shipping. this is what I'm using now and it works great, heck if we work together we could probibly get them at a better price, I'll could use another one for my 98 v8 blazer project.
S10 S15 V-8 CONVERSION ALUMINUM 2 ROW RADIATOR

WITH AUTOMATIC TRANS COOLER EBay Item number: 150132395907.

[Hammer Head]

Are you the guy that makes & sells those? If you are you should have used the whole inner support area instead of making it only as wide as a vettes. I'd be willing to get one if it was cheaper & r&d'd better because it's rediculious to pay at least $70 more to fill the area...

[gcgxplosv1216]

Thanks guys, I replaced the cap and it doesn't sound violently when circulating through the water bottle. Thanks. Temp is still 210 -220 with AC running, but it doesn't seem to be boiling over. Thanks again. Any word on a radiator upgrade with tranny & oil cooler. has annyone used the 2 circuit with attached fan for the tranny & oil cooler sold in JEGS?:(

[blacks10]

no i don't make them. they are custom made in Mount Clemens MI, i don't have anything to do with with them except buying one. you could probibly contact them through there EBay site and have it made the way you want. it sits back nice catches the air, and i run a black magic fan with no problems.

[firefighter]

I'm planning on getting the HD replacement from JTR this week with the FLX-220 should be all I need.

[Hammer Head]

Yep, already had that discussion.. he'll make them the way I & others would like them to be made at an additional $70 a rad.. not worth over $400 IMO. That's why I decided to figure out how to move the 4.3 rad into the support.


no i don't make them. they are custom made in Mount Clemens MI, i don't have anything to do with with them except buying one. you could probibly contact them through there EBay site and have it made the way you want. it sits back nice catches the air, and i run a black magic fan with no problems.

[blacks10]

how can you do it with the tanks in the way?. rad is a lil over 30 inches long and the hole in the support is less then 30. i have a mock up set up sitting here, you would half to cut alot on the support. but why would you want to do that anyway? a v8 swap?.