Thread: SBF 289 block with Elderbrock Performer RPM heads - coolant passage doesn’t line up

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I have recently purchased a 62 Fairlane with a 289 and Elderbrock Performer heads. The car runs 210 degrees normal which obviously has me concerned. I recently removed the heads and found that the coolant passages for the intake side of the cylinders is blocked. The 289 block has intake coolant passages at the 12 o’clock position. The heads have the coolant passages at 1 o’clock. There where small holes in the block at the 1 o’clock position but they have been filled with a set screw for reasons I don’t know. So I’m thinking I need to either drill the heads or drill the block. Anyone have any suggestions? My research on steam holes led me to this discovery.

It used to be a common thing to do, restrict or eliminate the cross flow of coolant to keep the intake cooler. I wouldn't bother doing it myself. 210 is about as hot as I would want to run, but my first questions would be what is the temp indicated on the thermostat? And what kind of thermostat? Is it one of those cheapy 6 dollar thermostats from NAPA? Also, do you trust the gauge? Do you have anyway to compare the temps? A thermal gun or thermometer perhaps? Also is there a shroud around the fan? Does it run the stock fan or electric? Lastly, can you share pics of the restriction(s)?

Temp is 210 as verified by an additional temp guage. Thermostat was changed to a 160 with no change in engine temp, and now back to the 180 thermostat. Radiator is an aluminum two flue, fully shrouded with a two speed electric fan. Temp gun on the radiator shows 30 degree drop in coolant temp. Water pump was removed inspected and checked and is the correct rotation and moves water as intended. After viewing Elderbrocks PDF on the heads it indicates that early blocks need to have a steam hole drilled at the 1 oclock position to remove air trapped at the intake side of the cylinder. I have redrilled the holes. I also found the engine block to have a large amount of scale/rust that the passage between the cylinder walls where blocked with deposit. I used a long feeler guage to knock out he rust and flused the block of sediment. I'm thinking this may cure my issue but I want to be sure there isnt something else I'm missing.

I'm having a hard time loading an image. For some reason they dont show with the [IMG] links. Thumbnails below. One pic shows the block, the other shows the block and head and I have blue tape indicating the passage for cylinder head alignment to block.



<a href="https://ibb.co/KF98vHZ"><img <a href="https://ibb.co/QcMSFns"><img

I have not had a set of Edelbrock heads.. but. in your picture #2, the 3 central coolant ports are blocked in the head??? That doesn't seem right. But I don't have a head here to compare against. Maybe an internet search can help..??..?? It sounds like you've covered all the other bases, maybe try and poke a hole in those 3 "ports" if that's what they are? Have you already removed the head gasket? and is the head surface now cleaned? Does the view look any different? sorry for the pic size, I didn't want to make it smaller.

And if it isn't clear which ports I was referring to..

Head gasket is removed. Head has not been cleaned.

According to Elderbrock the intake side cooling of the bore is acheived thru the steam holes (1/8 holes in the block) and the triangle ports located at the 5 o'clock in the above pic. I think most of the cooling is done on the exhaust side of the block. The intake side moves some coolant but more important it vents the cylinder bores intake side of trapped air.

Thanks for the replies.

And one more thought just slammed into my brain.. Is the heater core connected? Or, are the heater core connections closed off? This can and will affect coolant flow through the block.