Maiden Voyage Today!!!!

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, registered my car as vintage today. Got home, put on the plates, went for a drive to the local store and gas station, all went well to the store about 5-6 miles away. Got a lot of attention from the folks at the store and the customers, was even a vintage Volvo there, had a bit of fun, bought gas and made my way home. The engine was running hot by the time I got back around 200, I was cruisng at about 40 mphit is 82 and very humid today, but this high temp is still got me scratching my head. The rad spit out a bit of anitfreeze, but the ewas probably too high. I have been through everything, block and water dist tube flushed, decent rad from Tim Adams, water pump is okay I think, new antifreeze, and the engine was running good, no smoking out the exhaust whatsoever. Don't know what to try and fix next, to correct this cooling system. But inspite:cool: of this what a great feeling to go for a real ride and have the attention from other folks..........Fred

[PatS....]

Sounds like too much fun, Fred. Is there a front seat in it now?

[55 Fargo]

Not only is there a front seat, but a bcak seat, windows and wipers that work, lighting and a horn. There is an old shop in this Village I went to, the owner ,who is retired any doesnt' run a service station out of it anymore, came over to jaw a bit. He told me he opened the shop in 1950, says these old flatheads ran warm in summer, that maybe a fan with more blades or a rad with a larger core. The rad seems fine, hot on top, a lot cooler on the bottom, wonder if the water pump is at fault or not, it does not leak, the coolant flows when you rev up the engine, I can't figure this one out, don't want to wait for -20 weather to drive her, and she could overheat in the cold if there is a circulation problem...Fred

[PatS....]

Would a fan shroud help?

[Guest backyardbombers]

your parts store should have some additives to bring the temp down some, this will help.

[TodFitch]

With the block cleaned out and the water distribution tube the engine should be okay. You might do a flow test on the radiator... If coolant is circulating rapidly (as it should) there will only be a modest difference in temperature between the top of the radiator and the bottom. The fact that there is enough for you to feel is interesting.

But don't overlook other possibilities for overheating: Dragging brakes, incorrect ignition timing, lean mixture, etc.

Plymouths did not, in my opinion, have a tendency to overheat if they were properly maintained. My 1933, with a 160 degree thermostat, only reaches 180 on the (calibrated) gauge when pulling a hard grade at speed when the ambient temperature is 90 or higher.

[Norm's Coupe]

Sounds great Fred. Glad to hear you passed inspection.

Twice this week I wanted to take my coupe to the store, once earlier tonight. However, each time my wifes car was parked outside of the garage where she left it. Since my van is just a little further down the driveway on my side, it effectively blocks the coupe from getting out of the driveway. So......rather than jockey cars around, I just took the van. This happens quite a bit.

[Lou Earle]

Some ideas:

Are u running a thermostat? if not put one in.

Check plugs are they brown or what?

be sure timing is correct.

drain your tank saving the antifreeze.

Remove the lower radiator hose at the pump and remove the heater hoses at the firewall . now stick hose in the radiator hose and stuff rag around it and back flush the engine and see what u get.

then re connect everything and add clear water and a cup of automatic dish washing detergent- calgonite electa sol or some similar brand run the car a few miles and return and drain-you might be surprised at what comes out- The dishwasher granules are designed to dissolve grease and get crud off plates - it works same way in radiator

Tod's other suggestions are also important.

If that fails I would then remove the freeze plug in the head at the rear and also the rear heater fitting and get in there with air, coat hanger pipe etc and poke around - it is probably full of rust and crud- u can Al's remove the ones on the drivers side and get to the lower water jacket and do the same thing- I did that on my 34 and that solved the problem

Lou

[greg g]

check the temp in the radiator with a thermometer. Your gauge may not be accurate.

[55 Fargo]

Heres what has been done to date,water tube removed, side freeze plugs pulled, the freeze plug holes rodded out, I then pressure washed the block from freeze plug hole, water dist tube opening, thermostat hole etc, rinsed till the water ran clean. I was running a 160 thermostat, 50/50 antifreeze andwater, the rad has good flow and is in very decent shape.2 weeks ago I pulled the thermostat, when I drained the coolant from the block it was nice and clean, so was the coolant from the rad. That doens't mean there still might be a blockage somewhere. Tim Adams suggested I check the timing, a local friend of mine told me to put back the thermostat, but it was still heating up with a thermostat. Todays ride was only 5 miles or so each way, it was 82 outside and muggy, I was driving slow40 mph or so, no traffic stops all clear sailing no stop and go. In my mind the temp should have been around 170 to 180, but not 200 +. It was climbing higher as I pulled in to my driveway, I did lose a touch of coolant but the level in the rad was too high to begin with. So I sur hope I can solve this problem soon, I have bben working on it for a year.Thanx everyone Fred

[55 Fargo]

Did that too Greg it was almost the same

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

What is the temperature while you are driving at 40 MPH? The temperature will naturally heat up when you are slowing down coming into the driveway, etc.

[55 Fargo]

it was up to 205, it was not coming down