VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Is my Chevy running too hot?

I'm out cruising today and I noticed that my temp gauge is hovering right by the red zone. It's about 95 today and I've only traveled 15 miles. Is this normal or do I have the dreaded sludge in my block?

Your car is running too hot. It could be a water pump issue, a radiator issue, sledge in the water jackets or etc. Do you have a thermostat installed?

You might try a hi velocity fan. I put one on our '40 and had no problem.

JD,

First a given. Maybe I'm just plum stupid. Yet I wonder about your response.


1. How could it be a water pump issue? If it's leaking then yes. Otherwise, please explain.

2. What does the thermostat have to do with it. Stuck closed? Then okay but It would have to be a working thermostat rated well above 180 or 190 to make it go to the red mark. Please explain you rational on this as well.

Thanks,
Charlie

BTW: To who it may concern. Me arse is still quite raw from the whopping I recently got concerning the 32. It's real hard to sit down even now. Hurts like you know what. I'm trying to do better.

BTW2. The first thing I thought on the heat problem is a partially stopped up radiator. But what do I know.

1940 Chevroles tend to run hot.Possible causes, radiator restricted with rust coming from the engine and a design problem.
Installing a 1941 radiator can help (a direct fit) if and when all other problems have been taken care of.

In all my years working on cars we had 2 costumer cars run hot and the problem was a thermostat the would open just enough to circulate some but still run hotter than it should.
So Charlie there is a very slim chance it could be a thermostat.

Charlie