Do these temperatures appear okay for a 97 LT1?

[jeffp1167]

I have the advantage of actually buying my 94 brand new. Living in southern California at the time, I never saw the temps approaching the 3/4 mark (235*F), even in heavy stop-and-go traffic.

This is with the car just sitting and idling. When it is moving it DOES NOT act like this. If I am above 35-45 it always stays at the mark between 160 and 210 even when I am going up steep hills.

Another thing I noticed odd is after car cools down heater hose that goes into top of water pump colapses and also the hose from thermostat cover to radiator yet radiator is full.

[jeffp1167]

One thing I have noticed is the fans never have sounded as strong as when the 3.8 was in this car. Yet the fans are good as they always worked fine when the 3.8 was in it. Almost like they don't run at high speed.

[Injuneer]

This is with the car just sitting and idling. When it is moving it DOES NOT act like this. If I am above 35-45 it always stays at the mark between 160 and 210 even when I am going up steep hills.

Another thing I noticed odd is after car cools down heater hose that goes into top of water pump colapses and also the hose from thermostat cover to radiator yet radiator is full.

In "stop-and-go" traffic in Los Angeles, there is a lot of sitting and idling at 0 MPH

As the coolant cools down, it "shrinks" (contracts). As a result a vacuum forms in the cooling system. There is a vacuum relief valve in the cap, that allows the vacuum that forms in the radiator to pull coolant from the reservoir (that left the radiator as the temperature increased and the coolant expanded) back into the radiator, to keep it full. Either you have very soft hoses that needs to be replaced, or the cap needs to be checked to make sure it is relieving the vacuum.

[jeffp1167]

Thanks guys! when I bought this donor z28 prior owner said car overheats really bad and shop recommended new engine. It was missing its air dam and top radiator cover.

those two parts were replaced and the z28 ran cool on the road. I was just concerned about the idle temps is all since this is my first LT1 and when this car had a 3.8 it never got this hot.

So I am guessing prior owner just was thinking these high temps as overheat conditions when in fact it was acting normal.

BTW here is what I got for 1,000.00 because prior owner was not too bright. This LT1 is awesome and love it in my ex-3.8 camaro.