The Ford Barn

Brentwood Bob · 05-08-2024, 12:53 PM

On your test drive the car will seek its coolant level, try just below the baffle. You are looking for keeping the engine from overheating. Especially under load, think hills.
I traded a Mitchell overdrive for my huckster. One of its problems was overheating. The PO must have mistreated the rebuilt motor, but neglected to mention same to me. Never add water to an overheated block until it cools down!!!!
While discovering a cracked block I did a lot of the same as you have. One thing I did was find a radiator shop in Stockton(20 minutes East) to rod out my radiator. Best money I spent. They are gone now. Find a shop in your neighborhood, and use them, IMHO. Best money you can spend short of a new brass works, or bergs radiator.
There is also a dead spot in the back of the block that likes to block circulation. Only reached when the head is off. There is a modification mentioned in the service bulletins to improve circulation, but I used a drill, probes, vacuum, and other Rube Goldberg techniques to pick at the scale deposits. Then I found the crack in the cylinder wall of number 3. Another motor fixed that.
Bottom line - Start with a good radiator.

05-08-2024, 12:53 PM	#20
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,502	Re: Cleaning the radiator On your test drive the car will seek its coolant level, try just below the baffle. You are looking for keeping the engine from overheating. Especially under load, think hills. I traded a Mitchell overdrive for my huckster. One of its problems was overheating. The PO must have mistreated the rebuilt motor, but neglected to mention same to me. Never add water to an overheated block until it cools down!!!! While discovering a cracked block I did a lot of the same as you have. One thing I did was find a radiator shop in Stockton(20 minutes East) to rod out my radiator. Best money I spent. They are gone now. Find a shop in your neighborhood, and use them, IMHO. Best money you can spend short of a new brass works, or bergs radiator. There is also a dead spot in the back of the block that likes to block circulation. Only reached when the head is off. There is a modification mentioned in the service bulletins to improve circulation, but I used a drill, probes, vacuum, and other Rube Goldberg techniques to pick at the scale deposits. Then I found the crack in the cylinder wall of number 3. Another motor fixed that. Bottom line - Start with a good radiator. Last edited by Brentwood Bob; 05-08-2024 at 01:39 PM.