Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Ok so we rebuilt my 454 and after running about 10 minutes, it starts overheating. Here is my biggest fear, when we put the head gaskets on we assumed they were interchangeable between sides. Could I have put the wrong gasket on the wrong side and that causing my overheating? It has a new waterpump and thermostat. The fan sure doesn't seem to be pushing much air though, but the clutch isn't making any noise. As long as I know I couldn't have got the wrong head gasket on the wrong side, I'll feel a whole lot better about it though..... Now on the timing, I've read 0, 2, 4 & 10 degrees on the base timing. We unplugged the distributor wire set it to zero then cleared the computer. I think it is 4 degrees we should have set it to. Does anyone know the côrrect base timing and if it is 4, then could us setting it to zero cause the overheating? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
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Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

first thing is make sure that its got water flowing thru the thermostat.
it could be air locked, ( needs burped...) hot air pockets and its not flowing water thru the engine, second is the thermostat in properly ( not backwards ) then id start worrying other items.

Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Bump....
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Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Can't help you with timing, but what's your setup for starting a new engine? You generally need to run cold water over the radiator and get a big ass fan to help, there's a lot more friction in a new engine until it's broken in, lots of metal parts getting to know one another, I've never had one that didn't get way warm on it's first start up.

Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Since you did not post your engine model year and application it is very difficult to recommend base timing setting. In general, depending on application (also BCC code on your ECM service label) base timing can be 0, 2, 4 or 6 deg with EST plug set open. With EST plug connected idle SA should be bouncing between 16 to 20 deg (once engine is fully warmed-up. I use dial back light to since most timing tabs do not go past 12 deg.

Most after market intake manifolds have rear water passage block-off. See Edelbrock 2061, HOLLEY STREET DOMINATOR and others. Factory intakes are another story. So it hard to say if you coolant flow through issue. Fan clutch is a very common source of over heating in BBC. You must have air flow through radiator to get heat out of the coolant. Do you know intake gasket part number?

Did you replace harmonic balancer???

//RF

Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Ok, the motor is an 87 tbi 454 all stock with the exception of an rv cam. I still need to figure out the timing, however. I did figure the overheating out though. It was the clutch fan. It was fine when I parked the truck two months ago to fix the motor and it showed no sighns of being bad. No play in it, cold it would only spin about 3/4 of a turn, nice and smooth no noise. But it didn't seem to be putting out the air it should. As soon as the new one kicked on I knew that was it. It was like a jet engine compared to a box fan. But please someone out ther tell me what my base timing should be for it. Thanks!
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Re: Head gaskets and timing tbi 454
 

Clutch fans - love hate relationship...
Based on limited information....
Assuming the that your ECM has the following calibration installed

BCC: ACLP
87 R-V Truck 7.4TBI 3speed auto with 3.21 or 3.73 gears
Initial SA: 4.0 deg

BCC: ACLX
87 R-V Truck 7.4TBI 3speed auto with 4.10 or 4.56 gears
Initial SA: 4.0 deg

4 to 6 deg should be just fine for your BBC with RV cam -> which cam did you go with?
//RF