Old Faithful??

I finished the 5.0 swap in my 65 "HAWK" I have run into a problem!!!
I am running a 64 1/2 mustang radiator ( I had the bottom "inlet" swaped to drivers side ) stock water pump ( the motor was out of a 73 F-100 ) with a 16" electric pusher 180 thermo....
Hot water isn't exchanging into the Radiator. @ 200 F before I shut it down I felt the upper hose and it had a good bit of pressure on it, more than the 20 PSI it might see. I checked the T-stat ( it's good ) I checked for blockage in the Rad and in the block ( it was flowin fine ) I bought a new water pump, to replace the "old" brand new pump, just to rule it out (haven't gotten a chance to put it on yet) I don't want to buy anymore gaskets!!!. The radiator is building pressure and alot of it. I let the motor cool down over night and started it up the next day, this time I left the rad. cap off to see what was going on. @ 180 F ( it doesn't do it before 180 F ) water shoots out the top of the radiator like a giser!! it never did that when it was in the truck..... It's got me scratching my head.... does anyone have ideas about what it might be?

BTW... The T-stat in, and facing the right direction...

When you have one of those violent water explosions, it means the water is grossly overheated.

Have you checked into anything like a blown head gasket of similar?

I had similar reaction with a Fairlane, but was a two row radiator against a 427 engine. Switched out radiators with a three row, and it cut temp about 20 degrees. Installed a 390 and it did same, but the other engine also had bad head gasket.

Wm.

Not knowing what you have but if you have a serp belt engine with a v belt car it wont work unless you change timing cover and water pump. It will be turning the wrong way. Just a sugestion

Originally Posted by gbic1

Not knowing what you have but if you have a serp belt engine with a v belt car it wont work unless you change timing cover and water pump. It will be turning the wrong way. Just a sugestion

I agree with gbic. Ford made a regular flow and a reverse flow waterpump and you might very well have one that is not pushing in the proper direction.
Ras Daniel

Thanks for the replies guys... I have not looked into a bad head gasket.... I figured if it was a bad gasket I would have seen it in do that in the truck... I only changed three things : new h20 pump, new T-stat, and the radiator... The pump very well could be running backwards.... Evenryone at the parts stores swares there is one pump that goes on it, and there never was a reverse rotation pump in that year.
I am running a single V-belt BTW..... I could understand it if the car was over heating after the water was in the radiator, but it never makes it there.... It's cold to the touch while the block is burning up.... I did notice that the water pump housing was extreamly hot to the touch... I seem to be a magnet for strange problems.... I am sure it is something I did in the prosses of instaling it.... In case anyone is wondering, I am running 10 degrees of advance.....

Thanks again for thoughts!

What year and model is engine from? Oh I see now sorry. No reverse rotation in 73. What about intake gaskets did you change intake manifold?

73 F-100 302 with a two brrl.
I did change the intake gaskets....... I spent about 20 mins. looking and relooking to see if I had them on right.... I guess I should pull the intake and look....

Pull the thermostat and try it without one. It may be bad or in backwards.( I know you stated is was in correctly but still...)

I took your advice jim..... I have it narrowed down to the water pump, or the T-stat... I put the new water pump in and pulled the T-stat out.... It's running the water through the Radiator now.... and is running around 180 F I figure I prob don't need to run a stat with temps like that....

Thanks for all who pointed me in the right direction.... I am once again rollin....

Originally Posted by Stroker83

I took your advice jim..... I have it narrowed down to the water pump, or the T-stat... I put the new water pump in and pulled the T-stat out.... It's running the water through the Radiator now.... and is running around 180 F I figure I prob don't need to run a stat with temps like that....

Thanks for all who pointed me in the right direction.... I am once again rollin....

So, what was the problem with the water pump? Which did you need and which did you have forward or reverse flow? And was that not the 3rd, pump you put on there?
Ras Daniel