351W with heating problems

Nightviper19 · July 12th, 2007, 02:19 PM

I have a 1970 Mustang Grande with a professionally rebuilt 351W with a mild cam that is always overheating. I took out the 302 and dropped the new engine, along with a bigger 4 core radiator, new mechanical water pump, intake, hoses, and have been replacing things and trying new ideas for quite some time, with no success. Stop and go traffic just lets the engine cook until I smell coolant from the overflow tank and watch the heat gauge bury 240 degrees. It has a puller fan and a pusher is in the mail. I bypassed the faulty heater core, which helped, and also tried several different thermostats and restrictors, with the same luck. If anyone can shed some light to a novice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

460brevill · July 12th, 2007, 05:16 PM

do a gas check on your rad

Nightviper19 · July 12th, 2007, 07:09 PM

A gas check? Sorry, I must be dumber than I thought. What is that?

69fastback · July 12th, 2007, 10:44 PM

How much has it been bored? What's the compression? If it's bored .040 or more, that could be the problem.

OldSchool · July 14th, 2007, 01:23 PM

gas check? Ummm, I guess he is talking about trapped air is the cooling system.
Just let it get slightly warm and barley open the pressure release on the rad cap, this should release any trapped air.

Personally - just my opinion - that restrictors or thermostats needed to slow the flow of water through the block so that it will "pick up more heat" is a urban myth.
It wouldn't hurt to drive the car 1 day with no thermostat, just to see what happens. If you do, let us know.

I don't even know what a pusher fan is but a clutch fan is the best, and most costly as well.
Chech the spacing, fan to radiator - only about 1.5".
Fan shroud - gotta to have it. Improves fan efficiency.

460brevill · July 14th, 2007, 01:51 PM

I mean to check for exhaust gasses in your rad.Most mechanics have a suction tester from snap on.The fluid is blue when you put it in the tube.When you do the test ,if the fluid turns green,it means you have a cracked head or a failed head gasket.It is a cheap test to do,and very reliable.

69fastback · July 14th, 2007, 02:45 PM

An engine needs a thrermostat to properly run on the street. Some people believe it will make it run cooler to leave it out, but that isn't true, unless the thermostat is stuck closed.

If there is no thermostat, the coolant doesn't stay in the radiator long enough to cool off. By closing, the thermostat causes the coolant to stay in the radiator, letting the radiator do its job.

Grimmy · July 17th, 2007, 04:22 PM

have you checked your timing?

July 12th, 2007, 02:19 PM	#1
Nightviper19 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 iTrader: 0 reviews	351W with heating problems I have a 1970 Mustang Grande with a professionally rebuilt 351W with a mild cam that is always overheating. I took out the 302 and dropped the new engine, along with a bigger 4 core radiator, new mechanical water pump, intake, hoses, and have been replacing things and trying new ideas for quite some time, with no success. Stop and go traffic just lets the engine cook until I smell coolant from the overflow tank and watch the heat gauge bury 240 degrees. It has a puller fan and a pusher is in the mail. I bypassed the faulty heater core, which helped, and also tried several different thermostats and restrictors, with the same luck. If anyone can shed some light to a novice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

July 12th, 2007, 05:16 PM	#2
460brevill Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Farmville VA Posts: 1,327 iTrader: 0 reviews	do a gas check on your rad __________________ i sixing 200 six with 300 hp.

July 12th, 2007, 10:44 PM	#4
69fastback Premium Member 1969 Mustang Mach 1 6.824@101.61 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 5,572 iTrader: 0 reviews	How much has it been bored? What's the compression? If it's bored .040 or more, that could be the problem. __________________ ./___ _ ____ ___ \. ( ]]] _ _ O _ _ [[[ ) \_ o _ _____ _ o _/ \|___\| ......... \|___\| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyYU3...e_gdata_player

July 14th, 2007, 01:23 PM	#5
OldSchool Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 47 iTrader: 0 reviews	gas check? Ummm, I guess he is talking about trapped air is the cooling system. Just let it get slightly warm and barley open the pressure release on the rad cap, this should release any trapped air. Personally - just my opinion - that restrictors or thermostats needed to slow the flow of water through the block so that it will "pick up more heat" is a urban myth. It wouldn't hurt to drive the car 1 day with no thermostat, just to see what happens. If you do, let us know. I don't even know what a pusher fan is but a clutch fan is the best, and most costly as well. Chech the spacing, fan to radiator - only about 1.5". Fan shroud - gotta to have it. Improves fan efficiency. __________________ Year One and Year Old

July 14th, 2007, 02:45 PM	#7
69fastback Premium Member 1969 Mustang Mach 1 6.824@101.61 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma jackass, get to driving Posts: 5,572 iTrader: 0 reviews	An engine needs a thrermostat to properly run on the street. Some people believe it will make it run cooler to leave it out, but that isn't true, unless the thermostat is stuck closed. If there is no thermostat, the coolant doesn't stay in the radiator long enough to cool off. By closing, the thermostat causes the coolant to stay in the radiator, letting the radiator do its job. __________________ ./___ _ ____ ___ \. ( ]]] _ _ O _ _ [[[ ) \_ o _ _____ _ o _/ \|___\| ......... \|___\| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyYU3...e_gdata_player

July 12th, 2007, 07:09 PM	#3
Nightviper19 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 iTrader: 0 reviews	A gas check? Sorry, I must be dumber than I thought. What is that?

July 14th, 2007, 01:51 PM	#6
460brevill Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Farmville VA Posts: 1,327 iTrader: 0 reviews	I mean to check for exhaust gasses in your rad.Most mechanics have a suction tester from snap on.The fluid is blue when you put it in the tube.When you do the test ,if the fluid turns green,it means you have a cracked head or a failed head gasket.It is a cheap test to do,and very reliable.

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