The radiator was new, three core. I was running a stock 77 firebird fan on a clutch. The electric fan sits in front of the radiator and pushes through, the mechanical behind and pulls. Pretty sure the cap is good, as if I try to remove it when it is hot I get a serious blast of steam for the effort. There is no shroud, but does it really make a shit of a difference when the dam radiator is sandwiched between two large fans? Also, it will reach 200+ within a MILE. I am almost wondering if there is blockage in the block passages.

I just knew this engine would be trouble. It came from the 'chicken bone'. The chicken bone was a 70 something chevy truck which, when I bought it, was full of churches chicken boxes ( and bones ). The motor was originally built to go in a SWEET 76 Z camaro, but I ditched the project. Didn't trust the motor to sell it untested, and my intuition was on the money. Turns out, somehow ( just how does this happen? ) the fuel pump pushrod bore got scored up. Wouldn't be a problem until the block got hot, then it would loose fuel. I probably would have figured that one out sooner, but at the same time it had an intermittent ignition problem: The pick up coil on the HEI had lost its locator tit. It would rock back and forth, and this had caused the wires to crack. They would occasionally ground out, causing a miss. Trying to trouble shoot these problems simutaneously was a real bitch, I'll tell ya. Anyway.. the curse of the chicken bones remains.

I really think I need a bigger radiator. Just need a supplier.