Ok, i have a 400 in my Jeep and it gets pretty dang hot during the summer. Usually creeps up to 210-220. Specs are it's a non bored block, not sure on cam specs, I have the HEI dist. the guy who built the motor used performance parts....so it's not a stock motor. I've had it in my Jeep for bout 3 years now, seems to get hotter each summer with this summer being crazy. Now, a few weeks ago i redid the gasket on the intake manifold, if i didn't get the dist. back in right and have the timing too advanced would that cause the motor to get hotter. The timing is advanced probably around 32 total, maybe a tad more....not more than 39 though. I don't run a shroud (yet) using a 160 deg, thermo.....how can i tell if the thermo. is bad and not opening? I was thinking of mounting an electric fan in front of the raditor and getting a shroud, whould that keep it cool? What about an oil cooler? The motor right now runs very strong....I can chrip my 39.5" super swampers in third, but in 4th gear it seems kinda doggish would that be timing or something else. Just withen the last 2 months i have put a new cap and rotor on, new plugs, new wires, drained raditor and engine refilled with new coolant, new oil......using 10w40 synetic(spelling) Basically I'm curious if my timing is not correct and causing heating problems.....or tops to keep it much cooler.