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belairvette · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 3:03 pm Post subject: Ram Jet 350 Overheating

My ‘55 a Billet Spec TruTrac Serpentine with a short water pump. The RamJet came with a long pump. I don’t think that is the problem and the short pump does reverse flow as the long pump did. I have large puller fans attached to the radiator. Engine heats quickly over 200 and higher. Believe thermostat is good. Also. Idle is higher, around 900 rpm. Read about a by-pass solution? Know some other members have RamJets too. Solutions?

acardon · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, you need a bypass hose. I would change the thermostat just to be sure.
I had problems with air in the coolent system. Apparently the Ramjet manifold has a tendency to trap air. Does your temp fluctuate on the gauge, and have you checked it with a infered temp gun?
To get the air out of mine, I took the lower seal off of a radiator cap, so the system would not pressurize and connected a long tube to the overflow. Ran the tube way above the radiator and back down to a catch can. Then ran the engine until bubbles quit coming out of the overflow. The tube keeps from loosing too much coolent since a crossflow has to be full to the top, unlike a downflow radiator.

How much time on the engine? The high idle is probably normal until a certain amount of time is on the engine/computer.

Briney · Bel Air Joined: 23 Oct 2014 Posts: 57 Location: Richardson

I had an issue with my temp gauge swinging/spiking really hot and then it would appear to go back down to normal. The gauge was fine and the temp was really not hot. Found moving the sender to the other head fixed the issue. I also have a bypass in like Don said.
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Thanks,

Patrick

belairvette · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:05 pm Post subject: RamJet350 Bypass hose

Tell me where to install the bypass

belairvette · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:39 pm Post subject: RAMJET 350 OVERHEATING

Please send a pic of the bypass

acardon · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 8:21 pm Post subject:

You could also use the front manifold port.

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belairvette · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:36 pm Post subject: RamJet 350 Overheating

Great pic! Where the bypass attaches to the brass fitting on the manifold, there’s nothing after that, right! The bypass hose goes from the top of the water pump up to the intake manifold and that’s it? I’ll try that. I’ll buy some fittings and braided line on Monday. Many thanks, Ed

belairvette · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:43 pm Post subject: RamJet

Do you have a temp sensor attached to the intake manifold fitting?

acardon · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 8:01 am Post subject:

That's an L fitting in the manifold that I drilled and taped for the temp sensor.
The port in the water pump is suction, so it circulates the coolent in the block all the time, even when the thermostat is closed.

belairvette · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:26 am Post subject: Ram Jet

Thanks to all for the advice and the great pic. Will try the fixes. Thanks again, Ed