Wife's cousin next door has a Firebird convertible. Not sure of the year... I'm guessing anywhere from 1969-1971. Has a 400 engine per emblem on the hood.
He doesn't drive it as he says it has an over-heating problem and has since he obtained it.
"Have you checked/replaced the pump?" Yep
"Have you checked/replaced the thermostat?" Yep
"Have you had the radiator looked at?" Yep, it's either new or cleaned/reinstalled
Says all the above were replaced and it still over-heats. He then went on to say (if I recall correctly) that the prior owner removed the stock fan blades and replaced them with an electric fan. So now, it's either on full time or (I suppose) not working or, working intermittently.
That said, I'm not 100% sure how accurate the fan part is. I never looked at the fan.
My primary question is, testing the thermostat. Are they stamped with what temp they open? I recall there is a range they can operate.... if not stamped on unit, how can one ascertain what it's rated at?
If it is this electric fan (I have NO experience with them) what is it tied to temp wise, to tell it when to kick in/out?
I'm certainly not a certified mechanic but, if I am not a certified mechanic.... then his rating would be that he's not a certified observer lol. What I mean to say there is my background is a LOT more mechcnially inclined than his... heck, I gave him a strobe timing light and a tach/Dwell meter because I'll never likely need them again. He said he had no clue how to use either one.
So, I'd like to help him. I didn't know about it having an electric fan. Seems to me the easy answer is to just go back to the fan with belt....
No real question.... just trying to see with the above, what other thoughts might be on where to look for the issue. The car is just sitting under a tarp... unused.... and I'm of the belief that cars do not like to be unused.
