'88 Ford Turbo Coupe overheat issue

[Reaper1]

I have this '88 Turbo Coupe 2.3L Turbo. I finally have it running pretty good, but it has this overheat issue on the highway. I simply can't get it to stay cool going over 50mph. Anything over 75mph and it will stay overheated. I'm looking for a solution to this issue because other than the fans being on a manual switch and the A/C not working, it's an OK driver.

Things that are new or have been looked at:
Timing is dead on.
Water pump is new.
T-stat is new.
Radiator is new.
Hoses are good.
Radiator cap is new.

Things I *think* could make this happen:
#1 the heater core is not hooked up. I know in TD's sometimes this causes an issue.
#2 I'm not sure if it is supposed to have an air dam under the core support like a TD. If it is, then it doesn't have one, and I know this does cause an issue in some TD's.

Other than that, I'm at a loss. So if anybody else has had experience with one of these things, I'm open for suggestions....

[Rick]

My cousin ran his 87 and 88 T-coupes w/o the heater hooked up as it was easier to freeze his balls off than pull the dash....so I doubt the heater is a issue.

If I remember correctly those cars had a black plastic air dam under the core support. I'd find another 87/88 TC and verify. Those were the only years for the solid nose (no grille) on the TC.... or for that matter any bird of that body style so I would guess the cooling airflow had to have been modified.

[mfpmax]

Is the ECT sensor working properly?
On that note, does one of the fans come on when the car is sitting idle and the needle is near the middle.

And just because the T-stat is new doesn't mean anything. Check it in a pot of boiling water.
Also you can "search" the Turboford.net archives in the forums.

[Reaper1]

The fans are on a manual switch.

I will be checking the t-stat soon...

[mfpmax]

In that case does it cool it down when the car is sitting and the temps are up.

[Reaper1]

VERY slowly...it takes a few minutes to get it down to a level that I'm happy with.

[black86glhs]

Early 80's Corvettes and Irocs had the same problem. The air deflectors would get ripped off or the guys would remove them. It was at higher speeds that they had the problem(above 25 mph). That is where I would start.

[JrVipr]

My buddy has an 87 and had a similar problem with his. He put on the air dam and it fixed it. These cars barely have and open space due to the fascia design and the air dam direct air flow up. Try that first and see what happens, Last thing you want to do is pop a headgasket on that.

[Reaper1]

OK...on to adapting one of my TD air dams on to a Ford!

[4cfed]

i owned amodded 88 tc... stock intercooler front mounted bumper cover cut open to alow air flow to the cooler air dam removed, fully upgraded fuel system ported and clipped ihi turbo and full exhaust with a chip... never ever ha d aover heating problem with it and the heater core was by passed...... drove itt o the track 45 minutes at 65 mph there 10 runs trappin 14.8 with a 2.0 60 foot drove home 45 minutes at 65 mph.. never once over heated.... i did have aproblem with my old 89 mustang 5.0 where the gauge would sky rocket to hot when ever the radio was on or anything electrical.. was just afaulty gauge

[mfpmax]

The key being your bumper cover being cut open. A guy I know installed an LX Thunderbird bumper which has a small open grill on his car to allow more cooling.

[4cfed]

yeah.. and i also had twin fans ( stocker with a 5.0 mustang radiator).. ok.. so maybe thats why.. ehh put a5.0 radiator in and call it a day

[mfpmax]

5.0 radiator is almost the same...unless its a upgraded 3 core...

[ACR Turtle]

Just take the front cover off.

[4cfed]

or just do what i did front mount and cut the bumper cover open where the licence plate should be