Flathead waterpump bad??

Went to a local cruise in last night, and my '47 started running hot. It boiled over once I got to the cruise in. I have driven this car for 7 years, and have not had any cooling problems like this in the past. I drove it home, and it was fine, until I pulled off the expressway, then the gauge pegged and the car kept stalling.

I checked the oil, and it does not appear to have any water in it, pulled the sparkplugs, and they look great. So next I will change the thermostats, and flush the cooling system.

My question is, Is there an external check I can do, to see if my waterpumps are still good? I know on a SBC there is that pee hole, that springs a leak when they go bad, is there anything like that on a flathead?

BTW the engine is a '51

 

It's likely a stuck thermostat. Remove them and test in a pan of hot water with a meat thermometer. If bad replace with Prestone 330160 or 33180 (160 or 180 degree units) These are high flow designed for the '57 Chevy 283's.

 

Also check your timing. Are you running a stock dist? Vacuum leaks?
Pumps will leak if shaft bushings shot.

 

Thermostat check is the easiest, I agree with Jim do that first.
I agree check your timing. Many stock distributor advance pods leak.
Changing them is easy.
Also a lean fuel condition will heat up an engine.

 

Thanks for the info. I am gonna change out the thermostats this weekend.

I am running Pertronics in the distributor, and like I said, it have been fine until just the other night when it got hot, so I doubt that the timing is an issue. Still good info though.

thanks

 

You misunderstand - if you put a pertronix unit into a stock 8BA-style distributor, you still have a crummy distributor. Timing curve is controlled by the advance unit, not the method of ignition (although that has a small effect).

In other words, no matter if your spark is reliable and hot, if it occurs at the wrong time, it is of little use...

What distributor are you running with the pertronix module?

 

Hi Jeff,

Bet your flex fan has quit flex'n!

 

dunno, I feel 7 blades move more air than the stock 3. Taking the thermostats out brought the temp gauge back to just below N, so that is better, but I have only driven it for 10 miles or so, so not a real test. Oddly it leaked out the overflow after I parked it. SO more messing around to come.

 

Pushing water out may just be the radiator finding its level - open systems will do that.