Topic: GM 3.8 running hot
I've got a BOP 3.8, probably from an 80's G-body. Recently rebuilt and runs great, but seems to run hot. My old 70's 231 ran at 180 all the time, and this one dropped into the same car will easily go over 210 if we push it too hard. We had to back off at CMP to keep it under 210. We sealed up all gaps around the radiator and built a shroud in front of it to make sure all air that comes in the front goes through it, and that let us go faster before it got too hot, but I can still run it up past 210 if I push too hard. Managing our pace (keep laps over 2:20 at CMP), it will easily go all weekend without issues, and it uses no water or oil or otherwise acts broken, although the exhaust does pop loudly under deceleration, which our old engine didn't do.
Details:
big new aluminum radiator with fans
oil cooler
cleaned and flushed coolant system
timing set to 17 BTDC at 600 RPM with vacuum line removed from distributor.
distilled water with one bottle of Water Wetter
thermostat removed