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LT1 Cooling Question


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Hey guys,

 

I just registered today and have a question for the people with a LT1 swap using the JTR setup. Before I get started I will let you know that I have conducted many searchs on my issue without an answer. Please no flames for the new guy today... got to get this car back on the street.

 

General information:

1995 LT1 350 from a D body sedan

4L60 auto/tranny

JTR radiator (I believe it came from a 80's Camaro)

I have owned the car for 6 years and conducted the first carb 350 swap over 5 years ago. I did all the work except for the exhaust system. I am not a newbie to swapping engines into the Z.

 

Problem: Yesterday I put on a new Opticrap and refilled my engine cooling system. I flushed the radiator and mixed the Preston universal antifreeze with 50/50 distilled water and added. I filled the block through the thermostat first then replaced the therostat housing and filled the radiator. I run the car for 30 minutes with my electric fan on and it reached operating temp and did not overheat. Today I opened my radiator cap and noticed a wierd foaming substance in the radiator. I checked the engine oil, no water I can detect. Has anyone run into this? The car has been set up for a while.

 

For the people who swapped LT1's into their Z's can you tell me how you run the steam pipe from your heads into the coolant system? I know that JTR offers some radiator hose couplings for the steam pipe return. Did you use a coolant container from the donor car or did you just run a standard radiator. Thanks guys

 

PS: I will post my car pics later

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Iv'e been runing the lt-1 for a while now. Are you sure you have the inlet and outlet correctly routed? Probably do since the car did not over heat. Could just be crud in the cooling system. New radiator? junk yard unit? or the one you had on the car? Color of the crud? Odor?

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You may have air in the system foaming up the coolant. Did you bleed from the bleed screw by the thermo housing?

Also, if you originally had dex-cool (AKA Death Cool) in the cooling system, you will need to bback flush the whole system, put in a flushing agent, then flush again.

Here is a DIY flushing kit:

http://www.pacificp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1202

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I bought a T-Fitting from Summit racing online to T in the coolant hose from the back of the heads. That hose is pretty important for the heads so that air doesnt get trapped in them an cause hot spots in the heads.

 

I had the same question a few months back ....

 

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=102657&highlight=fitting

 

I removed the drain fitting and installed a barbed fitting for a hose and then connected that coolant hose from the back of the heads to the barbed fitting. I had to use this reducer anyways because my radiator outlet was some much differnent than the LT1 thermostat housing.

 

Guy

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markIv'e been runing the lt-1 for a while now. Are you sure you have the inlet and outlet correctly routed?Mark, I am running the thermostat hose to the bottom passenger side radiator. It was a new unit from JTR I bought a few years back but good working order. I think JTR uses the radiator from 1984 Camaro. The foamy stuff is brownish but smells like Antifreeze.

 

Tim240zYou may have air in the system foaming up the coolant. Did you bleed from the bleed screw by the thermo housing?

 

Tim, No I did not because I was afraid of getting my brand new Opti wet. Did I mention I hate the Opti spark system?! Any tricks on bleeding the system without messing anytime up? I probally did have Dex cool in there before but it's been awhile, I will flush it like you said...couldn't hurt.

 

80LT1I bought a T-Fitting from Summit racing online to T in the coolant hose from the back of the heads. That hose is pretty important for the heads so that air doesnt get trapped in them an cause hot spots in the heads.

 

Do you remember the part number by chance... or size? Right now I am recirclating the the water pump heater hose (inlet and outlet) and have a brass "T" connecting the (2) hoses. I also put the 280z water temp gauge on the "T" and drilled and tapped a nipple on the other side for the steam pipe hose to connect to. I really hate this setup because it is so rigged up looking. I am not sure it is working properly. I am worried about damaging my AFR 195's $$$$...

 

Can you explain this for me again:

 

I removed the drain fitting and installed a barbed fitting for a hose.

 

Do you mean like a coupling device to connect different size hose?

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Did you look at the link to the post I gave you? I used that fitting in my radiator hose and then took the drain fitting that they give you and replaced it with a barbed fitting. I then took the hose from the back of the heads and put it on the fitting.

 

Sorry I dont have a picture of it. My car is currently tore down and taped off for paint so I cant take a pic for you.

 

 

Guy

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Cool, in the search forum I read some of your post about injectors. Tim240z also had some problems with his injectors I think.

 

I noticed that when I unplugged #8 and #1 injector connector the motor did not stumble like when I tested the others. I have not put a test light on the injector pigtail yet but I have the feeling the (2) injectors are clogged. I also took off the regulator and noticed a ton of trash in the screen. Hate to just replace (2) when all of them could be partly clogged.

 

The car set at least 3 years until I got the house built and finally got off my rear and replaced the Optispark. I feels great to have it almost on the road again.

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