"Plain Jane" 1970 Nova Build

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by COPO

Maybe I missed it, but what was the "before" db reading?

You didn’t miss it. I just fixed it. The “before” was 104.7. I edited it so many times last night, I edited it right out of there😉

[BJCHEV396]

Great ideas Wayne,thanks for sharing bud!

[RALLY]

Good call Wayne, she is a beauty, enjoy.

[Arrowsmith]

Here's something for everyone (I think !): I put my Nova together with a DeWitts aluminum rad. It's a beautiful sort-of-stock appearing piece. They also included a cool billet covered rad cap. But in my "stock appearing" mindset, I decided to swap the cap for a reproduction RC15. I never thought anything of it. But when I started driving the car a bit, I was plagued with what appeared to be runaway overheating. It was frustrating, but one day when it was hot, I put a towel over the rad cap to check to see if the coolant was disappearing. No hiss. No steam. Nothing. Further investigation revealed the reproduction cap wasn't seating on the rad neck. Obviously the cooling system wasn't holding any pressure. So I replaced the repro cap with the DeWitts' supplied cap. Bingo. I can park it outside on a 90-degree day, nosed up to the garage door, put it in park, let it idle and walk away without overheating. Instant cooling fix. I wonder how many other repro caps are like this?

[427.060]

I have a DeWitts aluminum radiator in my Beaumont. It didn't come with a DeWitts cap.

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by 427.060

I have a DeWitts aluminum radiator in my Beaumont. It didn't come with a DeWitts cap.

Mine did but that's not the point.

[jer]

I've got a couple repro caps, one on a dewitt's brass/copper and a couple others on oem recores.....no issues. Does your rad neck measure the same depth and seat diameter as oem? Spring pressure feel the same?

[427.060]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

Mine did but that's not the point.

I understand that. My car runs hot when sitting in traffic. I'm wondering if the DeWitts cap will help like it did with your car.

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by jer

I've got a couple repro caps, one on a dewitt's brass/copper and a couple others on oem recores.....no issues. Does your rad neck measure the same depth and seat diameter as oem? Spring pressure feel the same?

Yes, but I believe the problem is in the cap. Over the years it seems other folks have had similar issues with repro caps. It’s kind of a hit and miss situation from what I decipher. I suspect if I had a rad cap pressure tester, I could nail it down exactly, but honestly since it’s working correctly now, I don’t think I want to spend $$$ on the test equipment😉

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by 427.060

I understand that. My car runs hot when sitting in traffic. I'm wondering if the DeWitts cap will help like it did with your car.

The DeWiits cap is pricey, but I’d first check to see if your system is pressurized correctly (Be careful man…). I was pretty frustrated with mine in traffic until I resolved it. By the way, I can now watch the temp change as the thermostat opens. That wasn’t possible before. It would just keep climbing until the traffic cleared up (or I shut the thing off). I’m currently using a 180 Stewart Thermostat, but I’d like to try a 160 example (I have a similar drilled Stewart on order).