Hey guys I'm having over heating issues with my s200 hicomp vlt i recently done the head gasket replaced it with a cometic gasket,arp head studs, new water pump,recon head since putting the car back together it's been geting hot and detonating heaps the initial engine timing is 53 belt grooves dot 2 dot my dizzy timing is spot on I've had to retard the timing as much a possible to stop detonation I have bleed my cooling system and it's has nerly 10lt of coolant in it the drive belt is tight so the water pump pulley isn't slipping and Ive also changed the clutch fan to a newish one to see if it helps also the car didn't have any overheating issues befor when I was driving it round with a cracked head it also has a new water temp sender the Bosch style plug one any help would be great guys also

what radiator do u have in it?

Radiator is an excellent idea to check... also why is it pinging, under what circumstances? Have you checked the thermostat is opening at the correct temperature?

How long from cold does it take to get hot/overheat.

need a vlt or v8 radiator a na vl one won't helps

Yeah guys it's got a vlt radiator if I cruze around it stays on the second bar if I give it some **** it gets up to half temp and nerly 3/4 befor i done the head it would stay on the first or second bar not to sure why it's detonating heaps only thing I can thing of is the timings out but the book says 53 belt grooves but all the timing belts are white line to white line 54 grooves

first grove is counted as 0, last one is 53

Thanks stevo !!! There's my problem lucky I've been babying it il let use know how I go after I change it