normal temp range

[polywideblock]

what is the normal operating temp range for a 383 b body ? after driving for 2 hours at roughly 50-60 mph my temp gauge was reading to the last line before hot ( it didn't overheat) is this ok ? ambient temp was 30-35 C( 86F-95F)
has factory coolant recovery system

 

[65-440]

that's on the high side of normal. Seeing you were on the hwy with plenty of airflow, I'd be looking at that radiator. Thermostat stuck closed and you would've overheated for sure. Same with bad water pump.

 

[miller]

Besides what 65-440 says, also see if you have a spring inside your lower rad hose. If not, hose will try to collapse, cutting off flow.

 

[65-440]

Besides what 65-440 says, also see if you have a spring inside your lower rad hose. If not, hose will try to collapse, cutting off flow.

Not doubting your recommendation, but I never run a spring in my lower lose and never had a issue. No replacement hoses come with springs, no new cars come with springs. I do this for a living, everyday, never had an overheat caused by lack of radiator hose spring !

 

[terzmo]

Not doubting your recommendation, but I never run a spring in my lower lose and never had a issue. No replacement hoses come with springs, no new cars come with springs. I do this for a living, everyday, never had an overheat caused by lack of radiator hose spring !

it's just one of several things to look at with an overheating vehicle...not the answer for every car
As for the temp...yes..you were on the warm side..close to hot...I ran the factory gauge and an aftermarket gauge and when the factory got that high it was a tad over 200 on the aftermarket...maxed out factory read about 210 on the aftermarket and 210 is too hot to run old iron regardless of what a few on this site have submitted....My 2010 chevy truck runs at 210 all day....the cooling/motor were designed that way...old iron likes 185 to 190..my 2 cents of over 50 years driving mopars

 

[Dako]

that's on the high side of normal. Seeing you were on the hwy with plenty of airflow, I'd be looking at that radiator. Thermostat stuck closed and you would've overheated for sure. Same with bad water pump.

Lol

Agreed. Is your radiator original? If so, itmay have some tubes plugged. Not something you can generally see without unsoldering a tank...upper or lower. A radiator shop can flow test it...they are becoming hard to find in the U.S. Maybe more common place where you are? Could also be blockage within the engine water jackets, but I would start with the radiator. Good luck!

 

[moparnation74]

Is your gauge correct?

 

[Ranger16]

I would agree that you are on the high side of normal.
What temp thermostat are you running?

When I bought my '69 Road Runner, she had a factory 190 in it and she ran 200+ on the road (hotter if it was real hot out and would go an easy 210 at a normal light. In a bad traffic jam (Madison Hot Rod Power Tour) it got to 230.

I cured it by going to a 180 and adding a fan shroud. Now she runs a consistent 180-190.

 

[polywideblock]

no idea what thermostat is in it or if the gauge is correct its just "as it came " from the states . was its first trip since getting it rego'd . 2 freeze plugs were "weaping" and needed replacing before they would pass it for rego

have driven it around town for hours with the gauge not getting above 1/2 way , it was only after a long highway run that it started getting hot , still didn't puck out water or overheat

 

[superfragl]

. No replacement hoses come with springs, no new cars come with springs.

Maybe not all have springs but some do. I am putting an 04 RAM Hemi in my Fury and lower rad hose did have a spring in it.

 

[oldbee]

Poly it's that "southern air" lol. I go with radiator problem, pull t-stat & put in a 180deg.