I have an LS2 that keeps getting hot. What thermostat would you guys recomind. Wright now I don't have one installed and it is getting hot. Or should I go with a Water Outlet Restrictor Kit? Just don't know if anyone makes them for the LS. Also the fans are set to come on at 180. Thanks for the help.

Do you have a windshield?

what brand of fans do you have on the car? Is the radiator getting enough air flow to it? do you have a good shroud for the fans? are you sure there is no air in the system?are your fans wired properly?
Just a few things to check before you start changing things.

No windshield, Two elect. fans, yes wired correct and a decent size shroud. When driving it gets hot. When I come to a stop it cools wright down. Don't know if I should run the stock thermostat or a 160 or a restrictor kit.

Put a freeze plug in the hole behind your thermostat housing and drill a 1/4" hole in it... Try that first.

Zilla

Thats what I have hard. Do you know what size freeze plug?

Usually it's 1.25"

Zilla

Just one 1/4 hole?

Oh ya does it matter the type of material the plug is?

Yes...

No...

Thanks I will give it a try.

Sorry to bother again but does it go in the neck or the base. The basepart is over 1-3/4"?

New project?

No bother... Give me a second and I'll post a pic.

Click to view attachment

Clay, could you explain what that plug actually does? Divert more water thru the rad? Limit the flow thru the engine?

putting that plug in there seperates the inlet and outlet side of the water pump. without it you just re-circulate the water through the pump and very little to the radiator. this fixed all my cooling problems

Does this work on the Ls1/6's??? Thanks

All LS style engines

Can't tell from your icon but is that a predator. If so, we have a predator in our group who was having the same cooling issues so he removed his rear center seat, presto...no more cooling issues. The seat was actually blocking the air flow into the radiator scoop. He is having a taller scoop made now so the seat can go back in.
If its not a predator, hope the other idea fixes your problem.

DOH! Should of guessed by your forum name...please disregard about it being a Predator...

Wickeds rule have shawn build you a scoop off the roof to pull more AIR down
to the radiator should help?

Mike do you have the LS2 550? Did it get hot?

I had the same problem this past week. I removed my 160 thermostat and that helped a little bit. I will be putting a restricted plate in as Clay has mentioned to slow down the water flow. My real problem turned out that I was not getting enought air flow to the radiator. I would check your where your radiator is mounted and make sure you are getting enough air flow. I am increasing my scoop to solve this problem. Also, I would recommend using "Water Wetter" in your radiator. It has proven to run cooler. You can get is at AutoZone. Good Luck!

It is going back together tonight and will be adding water wetter also. We will see what happens Holloween.

man that is an awesome looking car. post some pics!!!

Thanks. Here it is.

sweet lookin car!!!!!

Thanks

uummm
do you have a radiator?

















can't see it, might be part of the problem, no air flow if it is behind that rear seat..

whats up yes same motor, it got a little hot, seems like alot of the built motors
get hot, plug and water wetter will help.

Is there a place to bleed the air on the LS2 out of the cooling system? If so??

Do you still run the thermostat with the freezplug, or leave it out?

thanks

willy

You leave it out.

One more thing that may be obvious but not mentioned here is the direction that the fans are turning. Make sure that both fans are "drawing" or "pulling" air from the radiator and not "pushing" or "blowing". I had a simple wiring problem on only one of the fans that was causing an overheaing problem. I am making the suggestion primarily because you said that the car does not overheat when still. but does when moving. Think of it this way, the car won't overheat when still becuase it's not fighting incoming air. Just a suggestion. Hope it works out for you.

again great looking car!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the help. Taking it out this weekend to Glamis. Hope it helps.

I'll be out this weekend too. Leaving on Friday (mid-day) , I'll keep an eye out for you to see how the rail is doing. From the pics I assume you stay at Gecko?

Not at Gecko, We will probably be at wash twelve. Going out Wednesday and coming back Sunday or Monday.