The Ford Barn

Ivan in southeast va. · 06-09-2021, 02:56 PM

On a hot day, anything under 190 makes me happy. Model A's do like a warm engine, and yes not boiling over.

dave hummell · 06-09-2021, 03:59 PM

. 145-160 is really to cool it is doing nothing good for an engine.

Slowmotoring · 06-09-2021, 07:57 PM

I decided to put the hood on this evening and take the car for a drive. The engine temp was running at about 185. Climbed up to 195 after climbing a long steep hill at full throttle. I was pushing it harder than I normally would but i wanted to see what the temp would do. After climbing the hill the temp quickly came back down to the 185 area. While cruising, i pulled over and removed the front license plate which was mounted on the headlight bar, right in front of the radiator.... after removing the license plate, the temps went into the mid to high 170’s. I climbed a few hills, not nearly as hard as the first one but the temp stayed pretty consistent only climbing 5 degrees. I think i should relocate my plate to the bumper and call it good.

McMimmcs · 06-09-2021, 08:15 PM

Don’t you think by concentrating so much on temperature, you’ve possibly taken the fun out of driving your Model A ?

eagle · 06-09-2021, 08:35 PM

Sounds like you're good. As long as it doesn't boil over it'll be fine. Next winter have the radiator cleaned out, it'll be good til then.

700rpm · 06-09-2021, 10:11 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I run approx 50-50 year round. Took the coupe out today, 67 degrees, came home, shot the radiator, got 140 degrees at the top, 134 degrees at the bottom. This is usually where it runs.

nkaminar · 06-10-2021, 06:45 AM

RPM, Next time use the IR thermometer to check the head, block, and pan too. The point of my post is that the engine temperature is not the same as the temperature of the coolant at the neck or radiator, especially with a thermostat. With my coolant temperature at 140 the pan was around 205 which is enough to boil off any water vapor there.

Another point is that I modified my thermostat by drilling 6 holes 1/4-inch in diameter in the flange to replace the one hole that was about 3/16 diameter. That provides some flow with the thermostat closed and helps when the thermostat is open too.

Slowmotoring · 06-10-2021, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

Don’t you think by concentrating so much on temperature, you’ve possibly taken the fun out of driving your Model A ?

Im not sure how making sure im not prematurely wearing out my motor is taking the fun out Of driving my model a? I do enjoy driving the car. Thats why im making sure im good to go with what i have. Unless you think sitting along the road while your overheating is fun....

Ruth · 06-10-2021, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slowmotoring

Im not sure how making sure im not prematurely wearing out my motor is taking the fun out Of driving my model a? I do enjoy driving the car. Thats why im making sure im good to go with what i have. Unless you think sitting along the road while your overheating is fun....

Exactly!! You're doing the right thing.

Garwood · 06-15-2021, 02:19 PM

I have the Apco temp gauge so not sure how accurate it is but when I started running my truck this spring, the temp gauge was always in the middle of the green, guessing 160ish with outside temp around 70 - low 80's. Last weekend it was in the mid 90's and the temp went into the red, guessing 200 - 210ish. I flushed the radiator out with white vinegar, ran it up to temp then flushed with straight water 3 times then filled with 50/50. Went to a car show that weekend and it went to the line between the green and red, so 190ish.

Slowmotoring · 06-15-2021, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garwood

I have the Apco temp gauge so not sure how accurate it is but when I started running my truck this spring, the temp gauge was always in the middle of the green, guessing 160ish with outside temp around 70 - low 80's. Last weekend it was in the mid 90's and the temp went into the red, guessing 200 - 210ish. I flushed the radiator out with white vinegar, ran it up to temp then flushed with straight water 3 times then filled with 50/50. Went to a car show that weekend and it went to the line between the green and red, so 190ish.

I have the apco gauge also, My temps seem to be matching yours pretty accurately.

Aretino · 06-15-2021, 06:32 PM

APCO gauge as well. 190 on a hot day. 50/50 mix.

Garwood · 06-15-2021, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aretino

APCO gauge as well. 190 on a hot day. 50/50 mix.

That's good to hear it's normal. I was worried my radiator needed replacing. Since April, it was always in the middle of the green but that day it got into the red. I was worried so stopped for 30 mins to let it cool down.
I'm going to another car show this Sat and it should be in the mid 70's.

06-09-2021, 02:56 PM	#21
Ivan in southeast va. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia Posts: 303	Re: “Normal” model a temp On a hot day, anything under 190 makes me happy. Model A's do like a warm engine, and yes not boiling over.

06-09-2021, 03:59 PM	#22
dave hummell Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: northeast pa. Posts: 30	Re: “Normal” model a temp . 145-160 is really to cool it is doing nothing good for an engine.

06-09-2021, 07:57 PM	#23
Slowmotoring Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 94	Re: “Normal” model a temp I decided to put the hood on this evening and take the car for a drive. The engine temp was running at about 185. Climbed up to 195 after climbing a long steep hill at full throttle. I was pushing it harder than I normally would but i wanted to see what the temp would do. After climbing the hill the temp quickly came back down to the 185 area. While cruising, i pulled over and removed the front license plate which was mounted on the headlight bar, right in front of the radiator.... after removing the license plate, the temps went into the mid to high 170’s. I climbed a few hills, not nearly as hard as the first one but the temp stayed pretty consistent only climbing 5 degrees. I think i should relocate my plate to the bumper and call it good. __________________ Good things take time

06-09-2021, 08:15 PM	#24
McMimmcs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan Posts: 2,296	Re: “Normal” model a temp Don’t you think by concentrating so much on temperature, you’ve possibly taken the fun out of driving your Model A ?

06-09-2021, 08:35 PM	#25
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: “Normal” model a temp Sounds like you're good. As long as it doesn't boil over it'll be fine. Next winter have the radiator cleaned out, it'll be good til then. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

06-09-2021, 10:11 PM	#26
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: “Normal” model a temp Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I run approx 50-50 year round. Took the coupe out today, 67 degrees, came home, shot the radiator, got 140 degrees at the top, 134 degrees at the bottom. This is usually where it runs. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. Last edited by 700rpm; 06-10-2021 at 12:49 PM.

06-10-2021, 06:45 AM	#27
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,899	Re: “Normal” model a temp RPM, Next time use the IR thermometer to check the head, block, and pan too. The point of my post is that the engine temperature is not the same as the temperature of the coolant at the neck or radiator, especially with a thermostat. With my coolant temperature at 140 the pan was around 205 which is enough to boil off any water vapor there. Another point is that I modified my thermostat by drilling 6 holes 1/4-inch in diameter in the flange to replace the one hole that was about 3/16 diameter. That provides some flow with the thermostat closed and helps when the thermostat is open too. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

06-15-2021, 02:19 PM	#30
Garwood Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 84	Re: “Normal” model a temp I have the Apco temp gauge so not sure how accurate it is but when I started running my truck this spring, the temp gauge was always in the middle of the green, guessing 160ish with outside temp around 70 - low 80's. Last weekend it was in the mid 90's and the temp went into the red, guessing 200 - 210ish. I flushed the radiator out with white vinegar, ran it up to temp then flushed with straight water 3 times then filled with 50/50. Went to a car show that weekend and it went to the line between the green and red, so 190ish. __________________

06-15-2021, 06:32 PM	#32
Aretino Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Dallas, TX, Angola, IN Posts: 157	Re: “Normal” model a temp APCO gauge as well. 190 on a hot day. 50/50 mix.