Technical Ok, another newbie question (thermostats).

So,

As many of you know, I am new here and have a new to me 1953 Ford. So far I have learned how to use the OD from folks on here. My next question relates to a possible thermostat issue.

The car has been upgraded to a 4 barrel holley carb with electronic choke which is fine, but once the choke turns off (about 180), the motor runs fine through 200 degrees. However, if you let it sit at idle without moving, it will climb up towards 220 and will start to dump coolant out of the overflow. Once you are moving up above 45 mph the temp pegs back to 130-140. I suspect bad thermostats (I haven't taken them out yet). Anyone else have thoughts on what it might be?

 

If a car cools down when you are moving but heats up when standing it is generally air flow related, not thermostats. What kind of fan and shroud do you have ? Some cars are cooling challenged because of the design of the grill area and some have a problem with trapping heat inside the engine compartment, but I would start by looking at your fan and shroud.

Post up some good pictures of what you have.

Don

 

x2^^^^

 

Hmm, ok. It's a stock flathead (other than the carb), i'll go snap picks real quick.

 

Car runs cool driving would not be the t-stats. Is the belt tight? Radiator fins clogged? I have seen some of these cars with 4 blade fans and some with 3, always thought the 4 blade must have been from a truck to improve cooling issues.

 

Open the radiator cap with the car running & almost warm, but not past about 120, and look down the hole for a couple minutes.

When the thermostat opens the water motion will speed up. If there's any doubt take it out and boil it on the stove in a tin can of water & see when it opens.

If you don't see much water movement & the car starts to get hot, the radiator might be clogged internally with rust and dirt.

 

If it's cooling down to 130-140 at 45MPH, it may not even have thermostats in it, or they're stuck open.

 

Have you checked the belts?

I would hope your choke is wide open long before the engine hits 180. Shouldn't need to be closed at all for more than say a minute.

 

You might check to see if the coolant is low. HRP

 

Might be the radiator cap.

 

Coolant is good (checked), the link has some real quick pics i just took.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wharpoley/sets/72157644080777846/

 

Also, all belts are good, better than my daily driver.

 

A shroud would help it while standing still.

 

The shroud would probably help while not moving, but what about while on the go?

 

I would have the radiator gone through by a shop, it looks a little suspect to me. Then I would fab up a shroud from maybe a donor car at the wrecking yard. You want to pull air directly THROUGH the radiator, not from around the radiator, and I think that is what is happening here.

Finally, I would put a recovery tank on the overflow hose so that any fluid escaping will not be lost, but you will need a proper sealed system cap for that.

Those are the places I would begin.

Don

As for the shroud, you know what one of those looks like, right ?

 

Yeah, I know what a shroud is, and it would probably help. I'll see what i can acquire.

 

Yes, it does.

I enlarged the photos a bit & that radiator appears to need real attention IMO.