36 85HP with Skip's water pumps

[dean333]

I'm very happy with the Work done by Skip on my water pump update. The engine runs cooler and I've been to three cruise nights this past week, about 15 miles RT....I lose a quart of water but don't know where it's going. Nothing is dripping on the ground when I get there or on the garage when I get home. I don't see any spray underneath or evidence of water from the overflow. ???????

[quickchange34]

You could be burning the water out of the exhaust. Bad headgasket or crack in the block or head. Use a pressure gague on the radiator and see if the pessure drops. If you dont have one most rad. shops do.

[Gary Tosel]

Be careful on the radiator pressure test. The original 36 Ford radiator was not designed to be pressurized, but with Skip's limited pressure valve you can maintain pressure and lower raise the boiling point of water. I believe it also may be difficult to measure about 3 psig and hold it steady enough to determine a leak internally.

[G.M.]

Your water is going out the over flow tube. You need Skips 3 lb pressure valve that go's on the bottom end of the over flow tube. You will also need to make sure the radiator cap seals good or water will leak at the cap. you may need to make a new gasket for the cap. Water is being forced through the system with Skips high flow pumps. With the new pressure valve you will be able to fill the radiator up to the neck and see better cooling then the original results. This valve is only $25.00. G.M.

[G.M.]

Gary, The purpose of Skip's valve has NOTHING to do with raising the boiling point of the coolant. With his high flow pumps and a decent radiator the temperature should never get over 205 degrees driving down the road at any speed above 20 MPH. Stop and go traffic or long idles in hot weather could cause higher temperatures do to the poor Ford fans. Higher pressures also come with higher temperatures and these older style radiators are not made to hold high pressures. The 4 lb pressure caps on later radiators set up for a pressure cap or Skips 3 lb valve not only keep the water in the system but are also safety valve to protect the radiator and hoses. G.M.

[Dave D]

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I had one of the 3 lb valves that apparently stuck closed and popped the seams on my radiator. The radiator guy said installing that valve was one of the dumbest mistakes I've made..... so far.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

As everybody that has a Model A knows, your always adding water quite often. I installed one Skips pressure valves in the bottom of the overflow pipe I never add water. I don't think I've added water in 2 years. Walt

[Ken Bull]

My radiator seems to want the liquid level to be 1/2" above the top of the cores. So Im happy when I check it cold and its still at 1/2". Works for Me!

[dean333]

Thanks as always for the comments. I think I'll drive it a little more and see if the water seeks it's own level. I won't add any for awhile. It DID always use a little water BEFORE I had Skip do the pumps, the right pump always had a little drip before.

[FL&WVMIKE]

In theory, the check valve is a perfect answer to keeping your water.
In reality, you have to take those valves out, ever so often, and rinse them out. I have had two that plugged up with dirt, rust, sand, etc., turning the system into a completly closed system. You don't want that ! That is why, David D's radiator split.
I am completly sold on Skip's waterpumps. The valves, not so much.
MIKE

[jimTN]

I have one of those on my 32Ford and one on my 29 Packard, both work well!

[Brian]

If you can get your rad cap to seal tightly, you can run overflow into a catch can and operate full recovery system like modern vehicles. Radiator will always be full, but no valve to get crudded up. This has worked very well for me for years!

[G.M.]

These cars have a 22 quart cooling system. Running at the level it seeks is running at 16 to 18 quarts which causes higher temperatures. Clean your cooling system and you won't have any problem with the pressure valve. I have 7 of them and never had a problem and like Walt never add water. G.M.