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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Reasons that Flat heads run a lttle hot

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Discussion Topic: Reasons that Flat heads run a lttle hot -- page: 1 2

Carcheologist

08-17-2021 @ 5:40 PM

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As previously stated, temperature markings on thermostats indicate when they are designed to be fully OPEN! That doesn't mean that your engine will be obliged to remain at that temperature after it reaches that point. 160 degree stats open sooner than 180's but if you have a dirty block, heads, radiator, faulty radiator cap or loose fan belt, etc., coolant temperatures can go well above that to the point of pushing coolant out the overflow tube. Several old V8'ers told me over the years that "if you're not spitting coolant on the ground, you're not overheating."

I live in Texas where heat is just something we live with. My approach to conquering a tendency for my '40 to run hotter than I like was to remove the thermostats and run straight water with Water Wetter to handle corrosion issues and help water with better heat transfer. The car runs and idles beautifully and only has a tendency to creep up in temperature when allowed to idle excessively. That can be due partly to a problem every '40 & '41 owner has...a crank-mounted fan. I have an analog temp gauge under the dash to monitor coolant temp, and it never exceeds 185 degrees. I'm aware that Ford supplied the Flathead with thermostats and had good reasons for doing so, but this combination works well for me.

mfirth

06-08-2021 @ 4:37 AM

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Very interesting, kinda. My 52 8BA ran hotter with 160s in it than it does with 180s. 180s are perfect in my engine. I have a friend with a 1938 stock Phaeton. Don't know what stats he uses, but he has NO FAN & that little flathead never overheats. How's that for interesting?

hupdoc

06-08-2021 @ 1:52 AM

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Steve I'm confused about thermostats . Surely the thermostat should not cause over heating . If your car runs at 185 then when it gets to 180 the 180 thermostat will be fully open and hence not causing any obstruction to coolant flow and hence it shouldn't overheat . Provided the thermostat setting is below the running temperature shouldn't you be fine ? Of course running at higher temperatures and getting there quicker ( short of boiling) is supposed to be good for the engine minimising cold wear problems and burning off undesirables as well as maximising engine efficency . Ford fitted the 34's with 150 F thermostats -I've run no thermostats , original 150F, 160 F and now 180F in my 34 Fordor with no overheating problems at all and no change in running temp (albeit on an original dual guage- probably inaccurate but running temp still the same accross all Thermostats )

51woodie

05-01-2021 @ 11:52 AM

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Steve. I never said I was smarter that the Ford Motor Company. In fact, I consider most people, especially on this site, to be smarter than me. I do know that I can read and understand a temperature gauge, and can also recognize when an engine is overheating. I also knew what I had to do with my stock 59AB so it doesn't overheat.

TomO

05-01-2021 @ 8:40 AM

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Steve, I would like to know where Ford Motor Company said "160 DEGREE THERMOSTATS IN ALL FLATHEADS". All of my literature shows 160 and 180 thermostats as available for Ford products from 1949 and later, to be used with "permanent" antifreeze.

The 180 thermostats were available from other suppliers in the early post WWII years and were recommended to be used with "permanent" antifreeze. My Dad's 1946 Lincoln came from the dealer with permanent antifreeze and the 180F thermostats. It was a welcome change from the 1942 Mercury that had alcohol antifreeze. The alcohol antifreeze needed to be checked regularly to make sure that the protection was still adequate and had to be drained and flushed every Spring. The heater also worked much better in the Lincoln with the higher temperature thermostats. By 1953, alcohol based antifreeze was hard to find in northern Illinois and by 1950 most cars were delivered new with permanent antifreeze.

Tom

sarahcecelia

04-30-2021 @ 6:42 PM

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