LUVTruck.com

truck runs on the warm edge of the gauge

Mine used to run hot, also. Had to have the radiator core rodded out.

Did you check your thermostat?

_________________
'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

new just put in

I shouldn't pretend to know the answer; I don't. You have to check your cooling system to find the defect. From the water pump to the temperature gauge, the coolant level, the sensor, the belt slippage. I noticed mine which was newly resurfaced and a new head gasket installed, was running hot at first, and then came down. One of my problems was the water which had gone into the cylinders from a blown head gasket had actually filled the muffler with water and it was causing the engine to overheat since the exhaust was backed up. After the water had all steamed and blown out, the temperature came down to the cool side. It was quite a sight for awhile! No steam now though.

I hope you let us know what happens with your cooling issue.

_________________
'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

well I was thinking a new radiator and hoses would do it

What temp thermostat did you install? I have a 160 in my '78 and have no problems keeping mine cool. Your hoses should have some sort of spring inside to keep them from collapsing when running also.

_________________
1975 V8 Luv
1980 Bagged Luv

That might happen, but so would it be if you pull some things lose and find a dead rat in your hoses!! You oughta give it a whirl! Maybe you already did, huh?

I'd be sure it wasn't something else before I'd get a new radiator.

You could've put the thermostat in backwards even. I don't mean any disrespect.

_________________
'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

i didnt do the thermostat the guy im getting the truck from thinks that its the radiator

I thought the implication was that you had put it in when you said it was new.

Open it up and see if it's installed correctly. The thermostat will have an arrow on it that shows the radiator side. Put some silicone gasket sealer on the joint, and reinstall. I wouldn't get the big stuff until I checked the small stuff. How would you feel if the problem still exists after you sprung for a new radiator?

Know that it's as easy as flipping a coin to get the thermostat incorrectly installed. You better check it.

_________________
'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

Mine runs alittle on the hot side also, even after replacing the radiator which had a big ass hole in it, new hoses on the top and bottom, rebuilt motor after timing chain snapped and busted up a bunch of stuff, the only thing I've not changed and I'm to blame for not doing so when all this other work was being done, is change the thermostat, mine will get up to about 3/4 on the gauge right to start with but then it will come down to alittle under 1/2 and stay there... Sounds like we have thermostat problems, pressure is fine...