[alfa] Alfetta cooling problems

[Stefano.Iachella@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Cats,

My Alfetta's cooling system is doing some weird things.

It sat over the weekend and I started it and drove it last night. I
had no temperature reading for a few miles so I pulled over. I opened
the radiator cap and water burst out. I refilled and started it up,
shut it off and checked again. Filled up and repeated. It took about
2 liters. Temperature readings had resumed.

Driving it caused the temperature to rise to over 200 from 175 in 
about 15 seconds and then drop back to 175 in about the same
time. It goes for 4 or 5 minutes at 175 and then rises again. This 
is even at freeway speeds.

Other confusing things - when I stop it, the over flow bottle fills 
up to the top. 

This morning I'm getting the same behavior, so I left it at home. 
I replaced the thermostat with the kind discussed here before; 
a Stant with the reverse poppet. I did this 6 months ago. Also 6 
months ago, I replaced the squeaky electric fan with a slim radiator
fan, 9 inch diameter, I think.

This is the same car that had been diagnosed with faulty radiator
cap and overflow bottle cap a few weeks ago, which have been replaced.
It also could have a failing head gasket or something else sinister;
I'm getting water seeping out at the exhaust manifold at the copper
exhaust gasket #3. It seeps out the top when it's cold and dries up
and stops when it's hot.

The guys at Norman Racing say the water jacket fails near the
intake, not the exhaust. Could I have a cracked head, or is it 
a cooling problem that can be found.

Any opinions welcome. Thanks,
Stefano
Oakland, CA
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