302 over heating

cool... thanks... as soon as I get over this flu Ill be back in the garage

Originally Posted by retyler

I second or third the trapped air theory. I would check that before anything else. It's very simple and quick.

over the flu and back in the garage..... thanks again for all of your help... so I have taken in all of your advice and started with the simple one first... I took the thermostat housing off and ran the car.... water is circulating but for what I think to be at a low rate of speed.... my wife started the car and watched it come out the housing..... it poured out pretty steadily...... but just that "poured" like you would think of pouring water out of a jug...... Should there be heavy pressure??? I know that I am probably about to pull the heads off anyway and check the gaskets on the car...
Some of you say from the pics that they are on right.... who knows how the guy that rebuilt it has them seated though??
Some say overbore too??
I also had an issue with to much crank case pressure pusing the dip stick out too... NOT recently since I have been turning the car off as soon as it gets hot...

Thoughts on the rate of flow??? I should get to tearing it down right???

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

The Water pump will only have cavitation if it's going bad OR if the physical level of the water is not high enough OR if the pump is going backwards.

Cavitation is harder to achieve than most think.

Are the windsor gaskets different enough to be accidentally used and cause no passage of water between the heads and intake?

After looking at that link, I don't think it's incorrect gaskets on the intake. Windsor gaskets would be leaky biaches but still have flow....

over the flu and back in the garage..... thanks again for all of your help... so I have taken in all of your advice and started with the simple one first... I took the thermostat housing off and ran the car.... water is circulating but for what I think to be at a low rate of speed.... my wife started the car and watched it come out the housing..... it poured out pretty steadily...... but just that "poured" like you would think of pouring water out of a jug...... Should there be heavy pressure??? I know that I am probably about to pull the heads off anyway and check the gaskets on the car...
Some of you say from the pics that they are on right.... who knows how the guy that rebuilt it has them seated though??
Some say overbore too??
I also had an issue with to much crank case pressure pusing the dip stick out too... NOT recently since I have been turning the car off as soon as it gets hot...

Thoughts on the rate of flow??? I should get to tearing it down right???

I also have found out the make up of the block....
I got the numbers off the block and ran them on google..... and a few more ford websites..

Comes up that its a 1974 302 for a Falcon.... which that car was not produced I guess here in the states.... reguardless.... They say that it is prob out of a 1974 Maverick... thanks in advance for advice

The WP is working fine. The water did exactly what it should have...

I vote that you pull the heads, as the simplest way to see if it's rebuilt (very likely) and how much overbore you have. Then you can put your own head gaskets on and do it correctly.

Get a camera because we will want to help.

Overheating that rapidly is usually not a radiator issue. Have you timed it to the point it get's real hot?

Have you simply taken the rad cap off then started it and see what the water does when it get's ridiculously hot? Does is start bubbling out the cap, is there a crap ton of pressure all of the sudden.

You know as soon as you get a read on the thermostat it steadily climbs. I would say less than ten minutes from start to a pegged thermostat...... When I started it today.... I watched the water come out.. I also had the rad cap off too... and slowly watched the water level lower out of sight.. I didnt notice anything... I think I am with you on this one... Time to crack it open... I really think if I am pulling the heads I am just going to pull the whole motor off the frame... Being an old 27 T it should be cake.... I just had the tranny rebuilt too... If I am going to pull the heads why not paint the block while I am at it... My buddy has a cherry picker and I can pick up an engine stand at Harbor Frieght pretty cheap.... I think about $50...... Dont you think???

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

The WP is working fine. The water did exactly what it should have...

I vote that you pull the heads, as the simplest way to see if it's rebuilt (very likely) and how much overbore you have. Then you can put your own head gaskets on and do it correctly.

Get a camera because we will want to help.

Overheating that rapidly is usually not a radiator issue. Have you timed it to the point it get's real hot?

Have you simply taken the rad cap off then started it and see what the water does when it get's ridiculously hot? Does is start bubbling out the cap, is there a crap ton of pressure all of the sudden.

sounds like a plan to me. If you're going to have a bitchin' rod, better have a pretty FOMOCO motor inside it!

Well, maybe i missed it. Have you tried another gauge? Could be bad.
Id say that if it was maxing out at 270+ on the gauge than it would be hissing and spitting all over the place and it would be boiling everywhere. You did say that the radiator was cool. So thats leading me to think that there is something weird here. See if you can borrow another gauge from someone. Maybe youd like a new set of Autometers anyways?? LOL! Just kidding. Seriously would hate for you to tear apart a perfectly good engine if there ends up being no reason for it.
Gl!

LOL.... I think so too.... I already removed battery, fuel cell... truck bed, all interior, floors and the only thing holding the body on now is the steering stem....... not bad for a couple hours of work... I think I am going to leave the motor in the frame for now and see where it leads me...... figured I would get the body off and out of the way... Its November and here in Indy I am hosed on weather for the next five months.... I am going to go over everything on this car... I will keep you posted and take pics as I work on it.... I am sure I will need all the help I can get...

Thanks again Ford fellas

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

sounds like a plan to me. If you're going to have a bitchin' rod, better have a pretty FOMOCO motor inside it!

LOL.... too late..... its apart.... all the pent up energy after the Flu..... HERE GOES NOTHING!! I will keep you guys posted... I think I will feel alot better about this whole car if I put my hands on all of it.... what the heck... I have 5 months of crap weather ahead... with this website and all you FORD GEAR HEADS on here I am feeeling pretty damn good about this project.... I will post some pics tomorrow when I get the rest of the body off.... Then I will be back to bugging you all again.... THANKS FOR ALL THE WISDOM!!!!

Originally Posted by 71hotrodpinto

Well, maybe i missed it. Have you tried another gauge? Could be bad.
Id say that if it was maxing out at 270+ on the gauge than it would be hissing and spitting all over the place and it would be boiling everywhere. You did say that the radiator was cool. So thats leading me to think that there is something weird here. See if you can borrow another gauge from someone. Maybe youd like a new set of Autometers anyways?? LOL! Just kidding. Seriously would hate for you to tear apart a perfectly good engine if there ends up being no reason for it.
Gl!