This is not enough info! 225 is not that crazy with a 50/50 mix. What I want to know now is this. so your stopped and temp creeps to 225, once you start moving again at say 25 to 30 mph how long does it take for the temp to start going down again? does the temp show a decline just by the motor rpm being raise up even while the car is static? and by the way, 30 degrees total timing is not enough with these old heads and there chambers. I would want to see 34 degrees with a added 8 degrees of vacuum advance coming in just off idle.
If you hook your vacuum advance to a manifold source, it will bump your timing up at idle. That WILL make a difference. Try that, it costs nothing, and is reversible.
Yes, please try that. Your idle speed will go higher and the idle may get a little ruff, but we can work around that.
This might have been covered elsewhere here, I'm not sure. Once you get the timing in the right neighborhood, and it still overheats, then check your plugs, and ensure that you're running the right kind of gas. Nailheads generally don't like regular, and they don't like ethanol. Ensure that the heat range on the plugs is correct. I used to own a 60 Invicta with the same set up as yours, no shroud, long water pump shaft, except I ran a stock fan, and the engine wasn't too worn out. It always ran cool, even after getting spanked hard. Ensure that it isn't running too rich, and check your heat riser, make sure it's free. You'd be surprised how fast things heat up when that's blocked. If the heat riser is gone, are the ports to the carb blocked, or are they open? The last time one of my Nailheads got hot was because it was worn out, the timing chain was stretched, and there was a lot of blow-by. What's your oil pressure like? Heating up at highway speeds generally means worn out engine; I had trouble with that concept too on my Electra, it tuned out properly, ran like a trooper, but would overheat at 65 + mph on a fall day, didn't make any sense at all. So I took it apart, and sure enough, the engine was slack and worn out with 120,000 miles. A replaced gasket set and paint is not the same as a full-on rebuild, the flipper who sold me my Electra had done just that and assumed the problem was fixed. It wasn't. So you might have to dig a little deeper.
Yes to the above for sure! If your timing chain is stretched too far or if a Cam was put in retarted , then once the cylinder pressure gets low enough the motor can't pump out the Exh! Heck I have had new gears that where made wrong and then had a dog of a motor because that one time I did not degree in the Cam, lol!
I’ll check the plugs again. I am running premium. Also have a 4 barrel intake for nailhead.com that was gone through and the carb is a new Ediebrock 650. It runs great at highway speeds at this setup. Just gets hot at idle. When I had the engine apart I checked the timing chain and it was good. thanks for the input.
That's normal. Nailheads don't make a lot of pressure or even need it. They have a far better oiling system than the later 400/430/455. I still suspect your flex fan may not be moving enough air. I don't have experience with overheating due to retarded timing, so I'll defer to those that due.... it's a good thing to check.
Ok move the distributor vacuum to manifold. Took it for another trip still good at 180-190 with the AC on. drove through town started getting up around 200-210. Parked and idled the car with the AC on and got up around to 225. Turned the air off and went back down to around 215. Also put my electric fan as a pusher fan helped some.
That is probaly what the service manual says, but experience says it is too slow...probably 4oo rpm in gear (or less it AC is on). Mine is set at 700 rpm which gives a cushion if idling in traffic, but even then I might have to put it in neutral and rev the engine. A dwell/tachometer can be had new or used for $10 +
