70 RR running hot

[BL1 70 RR]

I took my car for a 30 mile drive and parked it on my street. When I went to move it inside my garage, the car was very hard to start. It has always been a little warm blooded. I replaced the Thermostat housing gasket and the thermostat gasket itself. Should I look into replacing the thermostat itself? The car is running at a cool 170-180 degrees.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Dennis H]

Not if it runs that cool. Characteristic. Heat soak, ethanol boils at 173.

 

[Lionized]

Exactly as Dennis mentioned, if you are running a blended Ethanol fuel you're going to have a bit of an issue starting it once it's hot. I went through the same thing with my Bee and one of the first things I did was switch out the fuel filter to a Fram G2. At least running this filter you'll have visual confirmation of fuel at the carb.

 

[BL1 70 RR]

Are you guys saying that the gas level should be higher then it is at right now? It also stalls randomly sometimes at lights. Could this low level be the reason why?

 

[BL1 70 RR]

Is all fuel nowadays ethonal blended? I fill up with 91 octane, should I put some additives in it?

 

[Lionized]

Fuel level looks fine...although it may have percolated out of the bowls. Has it always been hard to start once hot? Are you running any kind of carb spacer?
I run 94 octane exclusively. No ethanol. If you're running an ethanol blended fuel there's no additive that's going to help you.

 

[383man]

Run at least a 1/2" more if room wood or phenolic spacer under the carb as that will help a ton in keeping some heat from the carb. The phenolic spacer made a huge difference in my car in keeping the fuel from boiling in the bowls and flooding the eng. Dont use an aluminum spacer as it needs to be wood or phenolic so it wont transfer the heat to the carb. Ron

 

[Dennis H]

Good advice. I use the spacer too. Running 91 pump with ethanol here - no choice.

 

[69Runner]

I am used to seeing my fuel filter full when running, unless yours has drained out after some time? Is your fuel pump up to scratch?

It also stalls randomly sometimes at lights. Could this low level be the reason why?

Located above the valve cover, it is also picking up heat from the header. On a 383/440 the fuel filter is typically located in front of the block. It might help to relocate to just below the alternator.

 

[BL1 70 RR]

Thanks for the help, I ordered a phenolic spacer. Tonight I will try and relocate the fuel filter and move it down around the alternator.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Before re locating it, the fuel level in my filter looked like that. I now have the filter outlet pointed upward, and it always stays full of fuel. If it doesn't. then there is something wrong somewhere.

 

[BL1 70 RR]

I'm going to relocate it so it is upright and then test the fuel pressure on friday.

 

[BL1 70 RR]

I check the fuel pressure and that seemed just fine. When I would put it in gear it would die instantly, I would adjust the carb on it and it would idle for about 20 seconds then die. I kept adjusting it and the longest I had it running in gear for was about a minute. I checked for air leaks and vacuum leaks and I didn't find anything. There was a lot of air in the fuel line so I bled it out. What do you guys think the issue could be? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[69Runner]

Have you checked for any loose hose clamps on the inlet side of the fuel pump?

 

[hangn0ut]

Your gonna get frustrated taking potshots like that. And adjusting the carb like that....anyways it dies in gear. Does it die in park? When it dies is there fuel in the carb? Is it dry,some fuel or full like it should be? Maybe it doesnt die when in park. Check the fuel level again. Anything less than full is a problem. Ya gotta have an approach to isolate the problem. I'am sure there are better ways than what I just said but the important thing is to use reason and logic.

 

[383man]

Also when it dies does it start right back up ? Ron

 

[BL1 70 RR]

Ya the car starts right back up and idles normally in park and neutral.

 

[miller]

When I would put it in gear it would die instantly

That's a sign of wrong mixture setting, or timing off, or both.