Still wants to overheat after new radiator....

Ok... I'm a little bummed, but know i gotta be knocking down the possibilities...
Car STILL wants to overheat(climbs to 210+) if it sits idling for more than a few minute, as soon as it starts moving at a good speed, the temp comes down real quick.

I've replaced the 2 core(incorrect to begin with??) radiator with a brand new 3 core- I've changed out the upper and lower hoses, changed the radiator cap, I've changed the stock 4 blade fixed fan with a 5 blade flex fan.

So the question is...what should i try next?

I'm thinking go with the cheapest options first, since the radiator wasn't exactly cheap... Coolant Flush- and thermostat change out to a ?? deg... (160 or 180 deg?)

Is there anything else I should try before I go with a new water pump?

Thanks again for any suggestions guys!

[addsig]

What is this in? I have a 1964 Galaxie 500 XL Fastback with a warmed over 390 that has this same porblem. I changed the thermostat to 160 and have a flex fan as well. And i did the recore to 3 which helped a small amount. If the car is moving it is fine but if it idles for a little bit it gets hot. I am not sure what to do either besides an electric fan. but those are expensive as well.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

My 64 is the same way also but I have done nothing really but flush the radiator and years ago I tossed the clutch fan for a fixed one, moved it a bit closer to the radiator and still about the same. At the time I tossed the clutch though, it was overheating all the time. Someone told me that when they had thier 390 out for a rebuild and had it tanked and all, there was still tons of stuff in the block that he discovered when running a hose into the freeze/expansion plug holes. After flushing that out he said it doesn't really run hot at all. Now if he changes engines he always sticks a hose in there and flushes them out whether they were going to be rebuilt of just a standard engine swap. Maybe that could be part of it? Be a pain to pop a plug or two when they are in the car though unless you have the screw in types.

Deb

Just gonna throw my 2 cents in here for what it's worth, any of you guys checked and made sure the vacuum and centrifigal advances are working properly ? Nothing will heat up a FE faster than retarded timing. Also from personal experience make sure you have all the factory rubber seals around the radiator, they do make a big difference.

well, i've pulled the thermo & tested it in boiling water and it works... but i'm gonna replace it anyway since i have it apart. I think it was a 160 before, i'm gonna change to a 180 or a 190 as soon as i take the one i got from napa back and get the right one... someone changed my intake at some point, because the thermo he gave me is too small!

Anyway- I'll check out the timing later tonight... i'll let you all know!

Ben

BTW: Vacume & centrifical advance would not be an issue since it overheats at idle- not when running WOT... but initial timing could cause it, so i'll check that out.

[addsig]

I had an overheating problem in my 428 Gal, 220 at stoplights and sometimes higher. Removed the 195 thermostat replaced with a 180, that helped some but not enough, I then dug deep in to the pocket and bought a Griffin aluminum radiator 2 core, kept the clutch fan and the 180 stat now at highway speeds the average temp is 188 (with or without the a/c on) at a stop light the most it will go to is 195 once light changes drops back to 188.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mac428Gal on 6/26/04 8:16am ]</font>

You guys answered your own questions as to why.If moving the temp goes down which tells you most of the problem is too little air is passing thru the rad while idling.Do you run a shroud?What I did to take care of the same problem you have is install a pusher fan on front of rad,flex fan on engine side and cut the center out of a t-stat and use it as a restrictor.Only thing I don't like about my setup is the temps are not as steady as I would like.Also don't discount the factory fixed blade fans -they work very well but in my case it wont fit.
[addsig]

Did these cars come with fan shrouds? None of the photos i've seen of engine bays show shrouds...

Does anyone know what year &amp; car might have a shroud that would fit without too much hacking? I've seen the polished aluminum generic ones, would rather go wtih something more stock looking...

BTW: The radiator in my 67 merc is a crossflow style, not a downflow style like the 67 gal's i have seen if that makes any difference.

DId 69-70 full size use a shoud?



[addsig]

Mechanics have a way of not re-installing things that they think aren't needed on a car or engine.

Over the years many covers, bolts, shrouds, covers and hoses will just disappear on your car after serviceing. I once had to remind a Ford service mechanic to reinstall the front sway bar and frame support on on a Saleen, a friends car). I wonder if he had a Mustang?...he said it wasn't needed, ...just an honest mistake!

Shrouds were not installed on all cars, but they were available, usually in the heavy-duty or severe service (desert) package.

Water pump replacement and block coolant flush

Another issue not brought up, water pumps do go bad!. And it isn't just from leaking or something obvious. This is even more of a possiblity, in older cars. What do you know about the maintainence record of the car? Has the water pump been replaced? Was the replacment a one of theos GMB, POS, or a quality replacment?

The impellers can rust, corrode or actually come lose from the shaft. A flow test can tell you what is going on internally (I know, I know...extra money for tests)...but a flow test or R &amp; R the water pump can give you another thing to check off the list. Removing the water pump is a real fun job; if you were ever going to have a performance cam installed....might be a good time to do both.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Beoweolf on 6/26/04 9:09pm ]</font>

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On 2004-06-26 01:24, AHSOM70 wrote:
Did these cars come with fan shrouds? None of the photos i've seen of engine bays show shrouds...

Does anyone know what year &amp; car might have a shroud that would fit without too much hacking? I've seen the polished aluminum generic ones, would rather go wtih something more stock looking...

BTW: The radiator in my 67 merc is a crossflow style, not a downflow style like the 67 gal's i have seen if that makes any difference.

DId 69-70 full size use a shoud?

</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

There was someone on the list here that had a few fan shrouds they were trying to sell that I think are for, what I call, newer cars. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I need to get one made for my 64 as I don't want to pay the high price for the ones I've seen. I looked at the univerals and didn't think having rods going through the radiator was good either so I'm going to keep looking. Most all the cars I have seen in the 69-70 range had them that I've seen though. I think I've narrowed it down on the 64s to the ones that had AC and possibly the 427 engines, then they had a shroud. I don't really know that, but just from observation and other people asking for them. Don't make any sense though.

Deb