High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Anything Goes (within reason)

Moderators: FAOA Administrators, FAOA Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
NBrehm
Posts: 236
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Location: New York

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by NBrehm » Fri Jan 01, 2016 6:55 am

Might be worth it to swap the radiator cap for a new one also. They are cheap enough and at least you can eliminate that from the equation as well. If the cap is bad it may not be holding pressure, and the coolant will boil at a lower temperature.
-Nick
2001 Formula Firehawk #293

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Fri Jan 01, 2016 8:25 am

Pulled the old (new) t-stat yesterday & tested it. Started to open at 218*. Water was well into boiling. Poured the boiling water through the old lower hose & it flowed through, so that wasn't the problem. I don't see where Napa will be open today to buy some more coolant. Want to go with everything fresh to try to put this ordeal to bed. Or any parts store for that matter, since it's 1/1.

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Fri Jan 01, 2016 8:02 pm

NBrehm wrote:Might be worth it to swap the radiator cap for a new one also. They are cheap enough and at least you can eliminate that from the equation as well. If the cap is bad it may not be holding pressure, and the coolant will boil at a lower temperature.
Good advice, but replacing the cap is not necessary. When it warmed up in the driveway, it was spitting coolant out of the overflow tank all over the battery. GRRR! So that told me the rad cap is still holding pressure as it was dry as a bone around it.

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Fri Jan 01, 2016 10:13 pm

I'm not familiar enough with LS1's... Have you posted this cooling anomaly on LS1tech.com or Facebook? We have a FAOA group boad and a there's a Pontiac Firehawk group.
2001#194 (Unicorn)

User avatar
NBrehm
Posts: 236
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Location: New York

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by NBrehm » Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:42 pm

In that case, I'd say it is likely the head gasket. Do a leak down and compression check
-Nick
2001 Formula Firehawk #293

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Sat Jan 02, 2016 8:33 pm

I'm banking on it being a faulty replacement t-stat. The stock t-stat failed to open causing very brief overheating. Replaced it with a new, untested one. Car was running hot. Pulled that t-stat & checked it. It did not start to open until the water hit 218*. A second new replacement t-stat was bought & tested. This one starts to open at 188*. Replacing all 3 hoses while I'm at it. Also replacing the factory hose clamps with worm types. Getting them all polished up before mounting them. Did a flow test while the rad was empty which was fine, so I know it's not the radiator. I'm thinking, hoping, it was the 2nd t-stat that causing the problem. If it runs warm now, I will do a compression check. No, I haven't gone to LS1 tech & I'm not on Facebook. I'll let you guys know how it runs when I get everything back together. Thanks so much for the input, that's what makes this board so nice.
Last edited by 02 red hawk on Sun Jan 03, 2016 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Sat Jan 02, 2016 10:50 pm

LS1tech is your best friend
2001#194 (Unicorn)

PontiacFan
Posts: 2629
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2002 2:46 pm
Location: Kearney, NE

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by PontiacFan » Sun Jan 03, 2016 12:14 am

I don't know how accurate this video is, but there are more on YouTube.com if you want to search them out.
But isn't there a required process of 'burping' or 'bleeding' the coolant system when you change items such as the thermostat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEkx7fY1ljI

I remember when I did my cam swap, I had done something similar to this video above.
And I've never had any overheating issues.
I also did the 160 thermostat & fan tuning back then also.



Maybe you simply need to 'burp' your baby after you change the diaper, ..., err, uh, the thermostat.

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Sun Jan 03, 2016 1:06 am

Doing research on this issue, I had already watched the video. Thanks for the post, though. When I got the rear 02s tuned out, the tuner retuned the fans to come on at 190* & 195* respectively. The drive home from his shop is when this issue started. It just happened to be the T-stat. What are the temps for the fans to come on set by the factory? I'm wondering if I might want to return to those settings. Pontiac fan, I use a big oversized yellow funnel that can be secured into the radiator. I think it's called the spill proof funnel. When I replaced the 1st bad t-stat with the 2nd bad t-stat, I used that funnel. I did exactly what the guy in the video did, only using the funnel. There was coolant in the funnel & I ran the car for 10 mins, squeezing hoses to burp the system. I can't imagine there was any air left in there, but I can't be sure.

User avatar
NBrehm
Posts: 236
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Location: New York

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by NBrehm » Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:51 pm

If memory serves, stock fan #1 comes on around 225 degrees, and fan 2 comes on at around 235 degrees or if you have the AC turned on.
-Nick
2001 Formula Firehawk #293

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:15 pm

That seems awfully hot. Remember, the heads on this aluminum block are aluminum.

User avatar
NBrehm
Posts: 236
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Location: New York

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by NBrehm » Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:09 am

It is hot, they do it for emissions reasons. I checked on LS1Tech and found the same numbers. Also why it is important that the radiator cap works properly.
-Nick
2001 Formula Firehawk #293

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:19 pm

Took it out for a nice long drive this afternoon. Flogged it a little to see if that got the temperature to rise. It didn't. Car ran flawless, like it's supposed to. Temperature stayed right below 210*. Will wait & see if this issue is finally done.

User avatar
NBrehm
Posts: 236
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:58 pm
Location: New York

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by NBrehm » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:57 pm

That's good! Keep in mind too that the F-body temp gauge is about as accurate as astrology. It only has 3 positions
-Nick
2001 Formula Firehawk #293

02 red hawk
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:19 pm

Re: High flow cats for an '02 TA Hawk

Post by 02 red hawk » Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:21 pm

As long as they are cold, cool & warm, I'm ok with that. When I parked it in the garage after the drive, no sound of boiling coolant emanating from the radiator. Hopefully the Hawk is done being the laughing stock of my ws6.

Post Reply