It Finally Runs!!

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 12:24 PM

After buying the car and replacing the head and and cam box and all front seals and belts and water pump and hoses, I finally got my 86 running! It runs very well, holds an excellent idle, and drives wonderfully! The only issue I am having is that the cooling fans are not kicking on. I do know after some testing that the thermo valve on the radiator is bad. The coolant temp stays at 3/4 on the gauge when driving and idling. It fluctuates and the temp drops a little during different engine loads when driving. Hoping to get the engine temp down to half on the gauge. I'm not completely comfortable where it is now.

DarrenD · 09-22-2014, 12:31 PM

Great job. Feels great getting a car running again. Hopefully you get the fans sorted. Did you check the fuse?

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 12:39 PM

Yea, fuses are good. Thermo switch is bad. Not entirely sure if that would prevent the fans from kicking on when the engine gets warm though.

DarrenD · 09-22-2014, 12:41 PM

If you jump the fan wires, do they work?

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 12:42 PM

Here are a couple more pics of the car. Going to wash it and pull it back in the garage..after I clean the garage floor..

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenD

If you jump the fan wires, do they work?

Have not tried to jump the wires

DarrenD · 09-22-2014, 01:01 PM

Looks great. Engine looks nice and clean. I am loving the front bumper setup.

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 02:49 PM

Here are a few more pics of the car after its bath:

zedsn · 09-22-2014, 03:21 PM

If you car is that hot I would think that your oil pressure should be around 3bar and not pegged. Is your sending unit hooked up correctly and or is your oil pressure relief valve working like it should? Like the front bumper look by the way.

M. Murphy · M. Murphy's Garage

Good looking car, congrats on the work. I am presuming the cooling system has been bled. I would change the thermo switch (87C) If you drop the fan assembly it's pretty easy to do.

mazdaverx7 · 09-22-2014, 03:39 PM

Yes, the cooling system has been properly bled. I have confirmed that I need a thermo switch.

The oil pressure sending unit I believe has given up the ghost as well. It pegs out and the needle sticks past 5 bar after the engine is turned off, lol. A light tap on the dash and the needle falls back to its resting position.

Volhv · Volhv's Garage

Awesome,
+1 on the bumper.

Idle's a bit high also....
Gauges should look something like this when warmed up.

nynor · 09-22-2014, 05:34 PM

i would leave the idle. ~975 RPM is within spec, i believe.

the connectors on the oil pressure sender may be on backwards.

it the temp sender at the radiator is bad, there is your problem.

you can run the AC, which should cause one or both of the fans to come on.

GTR34 · GTR34's Garage

Interesting, my gauge cluster looks exactly like yours (coolant temp wise) would it be wise to replace my thermo switch as it has been suggested on here? my car runs at the 3rd mark when warm.

Beautiful car by the way, that engine bay is something to behold. Very clean!

mazdaverx7 · 09-23-2014, 03:57 AM

The oil pressure sender has not been messed with and I believe the connectors have not been reversed. Bad sender I would guess.

I do know for sure that the thermo switch in the radiator is bad. Would this cause the fans not to come on when the engine reaches the specified temp?

My plan is to order a new thermo switch and see if the fans come on. I do not like running the engine with the temps hovering around 3/4.

mazdaverx7 · 09-23-2014, 04:14 AM

Started Sunday night like this:

Then, I came out yesterday morning and started in on what I needed to finish from the previous night:

Then I was finally able to start the engine and let it run and warm up and burn off all the assembly lube and such:

Then after driving the car for awhile and washing it, I was able to tuck it safely back in the garage for the night:

zedsn · 09-23-2014, 07:37 AM

Have you jump started your fans so to speak to make sure both of the motors are good? If so then check to make sure that you are indeed getting 12 volts to one side of the switch and if so then your switch is bad. You high oil pressure on a hot motor if that is the case concerns me. You need to look into that too. My 2 cents.

DannoXYZ · 09-23-2014, 12:08 PM

Did you ever figure out what went wrong with the 1st headgasket install?

mazdaverx7 · 09-23-2014, 01:17 PM

Yes, I didn't torque the head tight enough. Blew the gasket right out of there!

nynor · 09-23-2014, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7

The oil pressure sender has not been messed with and I believe the connectors have not been reversed. Bad sender I would guess.

it won't hurt to reverse the connectors and see what happens.... will it?

I do know for sure that the thermo switch in the radiator is bad. Would this cause the fans not to come on when the engine reaches the specified temp?

i do believe so. you can do a sort of test with the fans by turning on the AC and see if they come on.

My plan is to order a new thermo switch and see if the fans come on. I do not like running the engine with the temps hovering around 3/4.

good luck.