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Acceptable engine temp

Bleep Bleep

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
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Location
Pittsburgh
‘69 road runner with 383 .060 over and 22” radiator. The 3 gauge cluster temp is reading it gets up to a high of 195-200 after 30 miles or so of moderate driving - averaging 2300-2400 rpm. It does hold steady after that. Creeps up to 205 at most in stop and go traffic. I know over bored motors tend to run a bit hotter but want some comfort 200 is not going to do any damage. Thanks!
 
Mine ( although I don't drive it often) used to run that hot but the thermostat was a 195. I changed it out for a 185 & now it rarely gets to 200. It sits at 190/95 ,for the most part. 440 six pack ,4 speed , 60 over, 26 inch rad, factory clutch fan, My 2 cents
( I also installed a piece of steel screen in front of my 956 rad ,to keep **** out of my fins ! I pull it out every so often & it's got loads of bees ,butterflies, grasshoppers ,etc... that would have been logged in the fins ,without the screen. I shake off the dead dry bugs & reinstall it with 4 steel twist ties & down the road I go with a still clean rad. )
 
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200 all day will not do any damage. I try to keep my motors around 190 give or take 5 degrees. One of my cars is a 69 Coronet R/T heavy built 440 bored .40 BDS 871 blower 900+hp 26" aluminum triple pass rad running around 210 on hot days. I added 2 bottles of water wetter now she runs around 190-195 might hit 200 at stop lights. Motor has been together for 6 years now, no problems.
 
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