what can i do?

You can get a mechanical temperature gage relatively cheap at any auto parts store. Most "off the shelf" ones come with adapters to ensure they will fit your application (intake). You can remove the 'idiot' light sensor - or better, plumb it to where you can use both the light AND the gauge.

It's really simple and relatively inexpensive (less than $15).

You could

Good luck.

 

When I first put in my 302 I was having overheating problems . It turned out to be a bad rad cap. It was letting coolent out my over flow tube .

On the six cylinder engines the coolent temp sensor is in the back of the head on the drivers side. Mecanical gauges are cheaper but you need to drill a big hole in the fire wall for the sensor to go through. With an electric gauge you only need to run a couple wires though the fire wall though a whole that is already there .

Good luck getting you`r problem taken care of .

 

Chrissy get a new Rad cap, temp guage, and a overflow botttle for the rad. All can be had at an Autozone or Advance for cheep. See what themps are and the overflow bottle will help catch anything that leaks out if over heated. The rocking back of the engine may have also been that the engine was overheated and continued to ignite the fuel air in the cylinders due to excessive cylinder temps (dieseling). I would also check the timing that will play havack on engine temps.

 

get a new radiator cap,one way to check for a weak head gasket is to get it up to operating temp,RELIEVE the pressure from the radiator cap before removing it.Take off the cap and while it's running rev it a little w/the cap off.Mine shot water out like a fountain when it was revved(blowed head gasket)the water should just flow faster inside the radiator.Just a couple things to check.

 

chrissy, my 71 had the same condition (except 302) . the only time mine would overheat was after running slow for awhile or in traffic then it would skyrocket. do the above tests and recomendations first then add a trip to the radiator shop. they can test for exaust gasses coming back into the coolant. my car had a bad head gasket that would only open up after the block warmed up.
b.t.w. i have a newer 3 row radiator here that i don't need. willing to sell it to get it out of the garage. also 2 used 3 row sitting around somewhere

 

Hey Jason, Sent you a pm

 

Chrissy,

I hope you already have this problem straightened out but if you try to follow everyones advice then you're going to spend lots of time and money. If you haven't fixed it yet, my advice would be to take it to a good reputable radiator shop and let them test your system. They can normally check for all of the above mentioned things and really save you some time. Time is money. Good luck and let us know how you come out. (My guess is the radiator)

 

Well I replaced the cap and the thermostat, so far no problems. Probably just the thermostat, but if I have any more problems I will take it and get it checked out. I'm crossing my fingers that this trip to Ocala goes smoothly.