[alfa] more on '77 spider cooling problem

["Christopher Keen" <ckeen74@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi again,
Thanks to those who already responded - I've got a couple more data points 
that might help toward the solution:
1) I tested the coolant temp. sender today in a measuring cup full of hot 
water, and compared the gauge readings to those on a meat thermometer stuck 
in the measuring cup. I could never get the temp. gauge to read above 
160-ish, even though the meat thermometer read 180-200 degrees (the 
improvised ground wire I used was pretty thin, could that cause this?). So I 
can probably assume that the gauge is not reading higher than actual values.
2) On another note, the gauge seems to be affected by acceleration, 
cornering, etc., reading slightly higher or lower depending on if the car is 
accelerating, braking, or turning left or right - but overall it still reads 
higher than it used to.
3) This problem showed up right after I installed the electric fan. The car 
ran a steady 180 almost all the time, except on hot days, when it might have 
gone as far as 190. I haven't replaced any parts on the cooling system since 
then, and there are no leaks.  Now the temperature creeps up above 212, at 
which point I chicken out and stop to let it cool off.
4) This problem appears under heavy load or in slow traffic. Yesterday it 
showed up while I was driving up a curvy road over the coastal hills. The 
only time under heavy load that it doesn't show up is when I am driving on 
the freeway, at which point I assume enough wind is blowing through, fan or 
not, that the engine stays cool.
As always, any suggestions are appreciated. I'm guessing my next step is to 
have the radiator serviced.
Thanks
Chris Keen
'77 spider
Los Altos, CA

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