306 burping out antifreeze from the radiator

[R3_82GT]

I wonder if you guys can figure this one out, I can't.
My 1982 Gt is burping out antifreeze out of the radiator and running hot. It never really seems like the thermost opens - as it warms up the level goes down, and then it come up, and then it keeps doing down and up that as it warms up. It also runs hot.

When I first build the motor (306 with AFR 185 heads) , I had a a Weiand waterpump, autozone 3 core radiator and black magic fan and it ran cool all of the time. Over time I have had to replace the water pump because it leaked, I just put in a shroud, clutch fan and a 3 core aluminum radiator (old radiator leaked at the last cruise). Oil looks great ( no water in it). Plugs look clean. Replaced the thermostat with a new stock one and nothing helps.

So does this sound like maybe a leaky head gasket? Do I check for combustion gasses in the antifreeze? Maybe stock replacemetn waterpump not reverse rotation? Firestone idiots got it hot 2 summers ago when they were supposed to be aligning it but instead decided to "test drive it" and didn't turn the fan on.

Any help is appreciated.

[rz5.0]

Head gasket on backwards maybe..

[R3_82GT]

Maybe, it ran great for the 1st summer - so I don't think so. I'm thinking I need to pull the heads - ugh. All this started when I took the car to Firestone to just get the Toe set when it was like 110 degrees out and they didn't turn on the electic fan during the test drive I had specifically told them NOT to take.

[BlueCoupeRedVert]

Sounds like head gasket issues. Mine was doing that. Pulled engine apart, and the head gaskets were bad.

[rz5.0]

I see.. Yeah sounds like a head gasket issue.. Missed the last part about the fan.. Might have warped the heads

[BlueCoupeRedVert]

You can do a Block Test that checks for exhuast gasses in the coolant.

[R3_82GT]

Thanks, I've been chasing my tail not wanting to pull the motor apart. But I think it's time to pull the heads. Maybe I can find the time to get it back together by spring.

[KBScobravert]

You can do a Block Test that checks for exhuast gasses in the coolant.

Start here.

Did you retorque the heads down after you put it through some heat cycles? How many miles has the motor been together at this point? What head gaskets did you use? And did you use new bolts/studs?

Sounds like head gasket all day long.

[Kart21]

Head Gasket , or cracked head is a long shot.

[R3_82GT]

I used the Ford Racing Felpro gasket set, so their head gaskets. Used new ARP head Bolts I did retorque them after running it for a while.
Can I buy the kit to check for gasses n the coolant from Napa?.

[TexasT]

Pressure check the cooling system.

Pull the plugs, is one or more REAL clean, like it was steamed clean?

Leakdown or just pressure check the cylinders.

All else fails pull the heads and see what it going on.

[R3_82GT]

Thanks, pulled all of the plugs yesterday. All 8 look the same. I'll do the cooling system pressure check and try leakdown next. Thanks for the help.

[Captain Crawfish]

Maybe, it ran great for the 1st summer - so I don't think so. I'm thinking I need to pull the heads - ugh. All this started when I took the car to Firestone to just get the Toe set when it was like 110 degrees out and they didn't turn on the electic fan during the test drive I had specifically told them NOT to take.

probably took it down the street and ragged on it like they did my car when i took it in for alignment. sounds like a headgasket problem if you have done thermostat and water pump.

[FastFox]

What "Warpage" I would be seeing would be on the Firestone manager. Did you say anything to them ?

[R3_82GT]

Yes, I talked to the so called manager. He wasn't worried about my car or even worried that the idiot that took it on the test drive removed the cap and spayed scalding hot antifreeze over himself (fortunately my Son and I were just far enough away we only got a little bit of antifreeze on us).
Maybe next Saturday I'll time to do a little more testing.

Thanks