Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / How to make Flathead run cooler?

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion << previous || next >>

Posted By Discussion Topic: How to make Flathead run cooler?     wmsteed 11-04-2016 @ 9:27 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 The flat-head V8's were famous for running hot, over 200 degrees, in traffic and summer temp's. I lived in Vegas for over two years during the mid '50's, drove my '36 everyday to work and play. Straight water in the radiator was not a good thing, boils at 212, a 50/50 mixture of water/coolant with thermostats to slow the flow down won't boil until it gets 230 or better. Yes I know, straight water is a better cooling medium, but not if if it boils away. Modern coolant recovery systems are a real plus because they allow the coolant to expand into the recovery tank, being drawn back into the system as the engine cools instead of being expelled onto the ground. An electric fuel pump as backup to push through a vapor lock is also a good idea. Of course a clean radiator/block and proper engine tuning is also a must. Good water pumps is another factor that many people overlook. The new improved impellers that Skip uses are well worth their money. I have a 2.5" aluminum radiator in my '39 with an electric fan. The thermostat is a 180. The car never runs above 200. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe cliftford 11-03-2016 @ 12:18 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 845 Joined: Jan 2014 You've probably already thought of this, but just in case: check your ignition timing and check to see that the distributor is advancing properly. I've seen the vacuum advance develop a leak and cause the engine to run retarded. carcrazy 11-03-2016 @ 10:39 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1667 Joined: Oct 2009 Tom, Yes this is the '53 Ford. When I checked the temp drop across the radiator, before having it cleaned at a local radiator shop, it was about 15 degrees on one side and about 10 degrees on the other. Got the radiator back yesterday when I was told the radiator flows well and looks good. I will put it back in the car and make future checks on temperature drops across the radiator. Thanks for your suggestions and help. TomO 11-03-2016 @ 8:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7256 Joined: Oct 2009 In those temperatures, you need more cooling capacity than we need in the upper Midwest. If this is your 53 Ford, did you check the temperature drop across the radiator? If you have not had the radiator professionally cleaned, that should be your first step also clean the block with vinegar. Block off the lower water inlets and fill the block with vinegar, give the vinegar about 12 hours to do its job and then flush the block until no sediment or rust comes out. Because of the hot temperatures that you must operate the car, it probably would not hurt to repeat the procedure in order to make sure that you have a clean block. I would also place some kind of filter material I the coolant return hoses to catch any loose debris before it can plug you nice clean radiator. If you have had it cleaned, the next step would be to have the radiator re-cored with a high capacity core with louvered fins. I would start contacting radiator shops in your area, to find one that has experience with antique cars and has had good results in finding solutions to their cooling problems. Tom carcrazy 11-03-2016 @ 7:21 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1667 Joined: Oct 2009 Stewart-Warner mechanical water temperature gauge. Sending unit is in the engine water outlet elbow on the passenger side cylinder head. cliftford 11-03-2016 @ 7:11 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 845 Joined: Jan 2014 Are you going by the original temp guage or do you have an after market guage? the original is not all that accurate. The mechanical type guage is the best, in my opinion. carcrazy 11-03-2016 @ 6:09 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1667 Joined: Oct 2009 Going through the desert on the highway at 55 MPH uphill with the outside ambient temperature at 120 degrees F. The engine coolant temperature was 220 degrees F. This is basically a stock car with 6V electrical system. What can be done to make it run cooler. When your coolant temperatures get as hot as ours did vaporlock becomes a problem. joe b 11-03-2016 @ 6:02 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 389 Joined: Oct 2010 We need a little more info. What is the temperature that you say is over heating? Also, the circumstances..idling,steady drive etc. carcrazy 11-02-2016 @ 7:52 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1667 Joined: Oct 2009 Recently my stock Flathead powered vehicle experienced overheating. When I mentioned this to someone who had worked on stock and modified Flathead V-8s for many years, he stated that the coolant temperatures normally run 100 degrees F higher than the outside temperatures! When traveling with outside temperatures over 100 degrees F, this could cause problems. Is there a way to make Flatheads run cooler?

<< previous || next >>

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

EFV-8 Club Forum Home | Back to Home Page | Contact the Webmaster

Copyright © 2009 - EFV-8.org
Powered by < CF FORUM > v.2.1