Mopar guys.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I was trying to sort out why my 72 Monaco with a Chrysler 360 never runs supercool no matter the Wx. Looking into the rad, the coolant flows toward the upper radiator hose that goes to the thermostat!

I know the Chrysler BBs have the distributor that turn opposite as mine, does that also means that the crank turns opposite as mine, meaning that maybe I have a BB water pump, inversing my flow?

[rpm]

Not a huge Mopar guy, but after a quick Google it seems the reverse rotation flow was common on Chrysler magnum engines. I found this on a Mopar board:

magnum engines have a reverse flow cooling system because the water pump pulley is an underdrive pulley (hence it runs opposite direction)

Don't know if that applies to all LA engines or not.

[Hajo]

Frenchy.  The engineers designed it that way for a reason..  If it's a California car I surmise they are designed to run a bit hotter

for emission standards.  Oil vapor blows through the pcv system and as you know is routed into the intake.  Hotter combustion

more complete burning maybe less emissions.  I know the new MOPARS (Challengers etc.) run a warmer water temp.  Some replace

the thermostat with a 180 degree one.  Engineers designed that temp for a good reason.  Replacing a thermo with a cooler one

not a good idea.  Modern PCMs look to see when to cycle the fan.  Put in a lower setting thermo requires resetting when the fan kicks

in.  If ya don't......the PCM may think it's still trying to heat up.  Not a good idea.  So ya..you're 360 will never get supercool, but it

shouldn't get super hot either.  Sounds about right to this mopar guy.

[CAP1]

I was trying to sort out why my 72 Monaco with a Chrysler 360 never runs supercool no matter the Wx. Looking into the rad, the coolant flows toward the upper radiator hose that goes to the thermostat!

I know the Chrysler BBs have the distributor that turn opposite as mine, does that also means that the crank turns opposite as mine, meaning that maybe I have a BB water pump, inversing my flow?

 check to see that your thermostat is actually opening. your 360 should rotate clockwise, as you're looking at the engine from the front. coolant should flow out of the engine from the thermostat, through the upper hose, then descend through the radiator, shedding some of its heat on the way.
 i don't recall ever seeing anything that old with a reverse flow type coolant system.

[morfiend]

 Frenchy,

  Old school morpars always ran hot,the tranny was often the culprit!  Now I dont advise this in a modern car but I'd just scrap the thermostat and run without it.

 If it's still running too hot then I'd look at a good tranny cooler!  With a good tranny cooler you might even be able to put the stat back in....



  YMMV.


   

[CAP1]

Frenchy,

  Old school morpars always ran hot,the tranny was often the culprit!  Now I dont advise this in a modern car but I'd just scrap the thermostat and run without it.

 If it's still running too hot then I'd look at a good tranny cooler!  With a good tranny cooler you might even be able to put the stat back in....



  YMMV.


   

 you wanna hear something effed up?

 you know how they all tell us that a car can overheat, due to the lack of a thermostat, right? but never really seen one themselves? well, guess what? i just had one the other day. 04 thunder turd 3.9 liter v8. no t-stat, and the thing was showing 230 and 238 on the two coolant temp sensors. went to check the stat, only to find there wasn't one. put a new one in, and she's not topped 220.

[rpm]

Gotta give that fan time to do it's job.

[CAP1]

Gotta give that fan time to do it's job.

 yea, i know the theory behind how lack of a t-stat will cause overheating. but the reality is that until a couple days ago, i've never seen it in reality. and i've seen hundreds of cars without them with no obvious problems.

 also funny about that thunder turd, was that the fans would come on around 225. with the stat in place, they never cycled.

 personally, i've never liked these turds......

[Masherbrum]

I would make sure the Thermostat is opening.    Because it sounds like this is the culprit.

[morfiend]

yea, i know the theory behind how lack of a t-stat will cause overheating. but the reality is that until a couple days ago, i've never seen it in reality. and i've seen hundreds of cars without them with no obvious problems.

 also funny about that thunder turd, was that the fans would come on around 225. with the stat in place, they never cycled.

 personally, i've never liked these turds......

  Cap,

  I've seen that before too!  thats why I said I wouldnt advise it with a modern car.

   However Frenchy's monaco is a 72 and doesnt have all the computer controls,electric fans,etc.  I still stand by my statement that the tranny is the culprit and if Frenchy lives where it's hot then for sure I'd run it without the stat and see how the temps are and if still too high I'd try a tranny cooler.

   I cant tell you how much money my folks made back then but it was standard for me to send folks in to eat while thier cars cooled down so I could refill the rad. This was pretty common problem back then and almost always either a bad thermostat and or overheated tranny.

  Frenchy, is the 360 a "leanburn" unit,if so they run hot to begin with maybe the rad is on it's last legs!