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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 07:03:30 pm

Title: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 07:03:30 pm
What would cause my Engine to overheat when the truck is in 4wd only??? ive had it for around two months now and every time i lock it in 4wd the temp runs around 230 but in two it runs 180-190???

Its only a smallblock 400 it was all factory when i got the truck just a towing cam i put a eldelbrock high rise intake and holley carb i called the guy i bought it from he says it ran hot with him in only 4wd any suggestions???

Thanks,
John
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: bake74 on January 11, 2012, 09:26:17 pm
     One of your other post I answered you said your front driveshaft splines were stripped, now this post is making me curious about your gearing. 
     Have you popped open the front and rear diff's and actually checked your ring and pinion gears to see if the are the same ?  All your problems you are posting about makes me believe you do not have the same front and rear gears.
     To answer this question ( and your stripped splines ), if your front gears were different, the truck would work extra hard trying to force the axles to go at the same speed in 4x4.  ( which in turn may have caused some of your other problems ).
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 09:33:02 pm
ok now im really wondering i was told that they were the same, i have planned on servicing the front and rear end where would i find the ratio on the ring and pinion?
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 09:34:43 pm
but there is one thing i has done it without the hub actually being locked in.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: zieg85 on January 11, 2012, 09:40:09 pm
ok now im really wondering i was told that they were the same, i have planned on servicing the front and rear end where would i find the ratio on the ring and pinion?

The numbers are stamped on the ring gear.  40/13 for example is a 3.07
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: bake74 on January 11, 2012, 09:41:17 pm
ok now im really wondering i was told that they were the same, i have planned on servicing the front and rear end where would i find the ratio on the ring and pinion?

     You count the ring gear teeth and divide the pinion gear teeth into the ring gear to get the ratio.

but there is one thing i has done it without the hub actually being locked in.

     The hubs only lock in the axles for the front tires, if you engaged transfer case, the ring and pinion is still turning.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 09:46:11 pm
true i did forget did realize after gettin the truck that the driveshaft was loose from the transfer case which the other day i was running the truck 4wd with everything oprating fine then a loud pop came from the front end then it overheated real bad thats when i noticed the front driveshaft splines had stripped but in other words all of the front end can be loose and it still go over 230 degrees in temp im starting to wonder if its in the transfer case?
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 11, 2012, 09:52:51 pm
the engine is bored not sure of how much i do realize that it bieng bored will have alot to do with it overheating im planning on gettin head work done when i get the money up i will see how much it is bored then
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: jaredts on January 12, 2012, 06:14:36 am
ok now im really wondering i was told that they were the same, i have planned on servicing the front and rear end where would i find the ratio on the ring and pinion?

     You count the ring gear teeth and divide the pinion gear teeth into the ring gear to get the ratio.

but there is one thing i has done it without the hub actually being locked in.

     The hubs only lock in the axles for the front tires, if you engaged transfer case, the ring and pinion is still turning.
The ring and pinion still turn, but if the hubs are unlocked why would it matter what speed they turn in reference to the rear?
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: bake74 on January 12, 2012, 09:16:39 am
ok now im really wondering i was told that they were the same, i have planned on servicing the front and rear end where would i find the ratio on the ring and pinion?

     You count the ring gear teeth and divide the pinion gear teeth into the ring gear to get the ratio.

but there is one thing i has done it without the hub actually being locked in.

     The hubs only lock in the axles for the front tires, if you engaged transfer case, the ring and pinion is still turning.
The ring and pinion still turn, but if the hubs are unlocked why would it matter what speed they turn in reference to the rear?

     Your right, that would not matter, only if the hubs are locked in, missed that one little detail.  But for some reason while in 4wd the engine is having to work harder to push the vehicle, therefor only overheating in 4wd. 
     I would look into the transfer case next.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 12, 2012, 01:42:59 pm
i have a 350 that ive thought about stickin in their to see if it overheats too but i also believe that its in the transfer case
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: firefighter on January 12, 2012, 03:47:44 pm
I wonder how it would work to jack up and support all 4 corners of the truck suspension, start the truck and put it in 4WD and see how freely everything begins to rotate.
A guy sure hates to begin a major drivetrain disassembly, only to find out it was something else.
It's just odd that the 4WD mechanism would turn so hard that it would make the motor overheat. If it is something in the transfer case, it must be turning really, really hard.
I'll be very interested to find out the end result of this problem.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 12, 2012, 06:16:20 pm
i will let everyone know what it is and thats a good idea ill try that before i start to tear down the drivetrain
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: BIG CHEVY on January 12, 2012, 07:05:04 pm
Maybe it just does it in low range because you arent forcing air in the nose.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 12, 2012, 07:34:58 pm
it does it in high range too you could be right but it has an electric fan setup
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: muddpuppy01 on January 12, 2012, 07:37:56 pm
does it overheat just sitting still. you said it be bored out wonder if the heads have the steam port in them. Does it take awhile to warm up first thing.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 12, 2012, 10:00:05 pm
sometimes it takes a while and sometimes it warms up pretty quick dependeing on the temp
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: muddpuppy01 on January 15, 2012, 06:42:51 pm
is the thermostat install with proper rating and working properly

running without a tstat will cause heating issues
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 15, 2012, 10:01:20 pm
Im Gonna review everything ive been told on here and see what it comes out to be i appreciate all yall help

yes there is a new thermostat in the truck
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 17, 2012, 05:19:44 am
i think the problem isnt the transfercase but just like you said before the engine works harder in 4x4 , then on top of that the engine is bored out so that would be a variable. i would lean more just to the radiator isnt big enough to cool the fluid since its getting hotter than normal due to the bored out engine
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: beastie_3 on January 17, 2012, 04:26:49 pm
Did your truck originally come with the 400? Radiators are different sizes depending on what engine originally came with it.
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 18, 2012, 11:19:15 pm
My Truck Came With A 5.0 in it but the radiator has been replaced to a thicker core at least thats what i was told
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: beastie_3 on January 19, 2012, 12:18:47 am
How many rows does it have?
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 20, 2012, 09:22:23 pm
the core is about 1 1/2
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: johnhood on January 30, 2012, 12:39:15 am
i appreciate everyones help i found the problem it wasmy water pump was weak and slowley going out it started to overheat in 2wd also so i really started tearin it down and it turned out to be the pump Thanks Again
Title: Re: Small Block 400 Overheating in 4wd
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 31, 2012, 10:38:28 am
so you fixed it ?