Wayne, have you taken the radiator cap off, and looked at the fins ? (you
might have to use a flashlight) They might be all gummed up. After talking
to the mechanics at our state auto (truck, grader, bulldozer, etc) shop, I
started to use ONLY distilled water (with 50% antifreeze) in my cooling
systems. All those minerals in tap water are hazardous to your trucks
health. If the radiator is clogged, take it off (carefully, those fins dent
easily), and take it to a GOOD radiator shop. It's a little effort, but well
worth the piece of mind.They may be able to just clean (rod) it. But at the
same time, have them check it over all the way. And yes, they might have to
build you a new radiator, probably with your top and bottom sections. Having
your engine BADLY overheat on the road is a real loser. Let's see, 74 Pinto,
55 Mercury, etc. And of course it's going to happen on the hottest day of
the year, and you'll have AT least your wife, best friend, etc with you.
Bob K in PHX, AZ. (117 in the summer)
----- Original Message -----
From: <Ie61pah@aol.com>
To: <wroworth@tampabay.rr.com>; <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 9:25 AM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] RE: What is Hot?
> Wayne,
> Glad to hear your "hot problem" is getting better. But before you hook up
> the trailer and head out on a trip, I think you have some more work to do.
90
> degrees is not that hot, and should not be affecting the temp in your
truck that
> much under normal driving. 205 water temp would be closer to normal if you
> had the air running and were pulling the trailer and pushing a head wind.
> Older engines were not made to run with the high temps that the newer
> engines run at. 180 to 190 degrees should be the normal range for an older
small
> block. With a harder pull they will climb to a little over 200 degrees,
but at
> 210, I would start to worry, and at 220 to 230 I would be shutting it off
to see
> what's wrong.
> "IN MY OPINION" you should install a 180 degree thermostat, and keep the
> temp below 200 under normal driving. You may still need to install a new
> radiator, if yours can't flow enough to keep it cool.
> If you want to keep that engine around for a long time, you really need
to
> fix it before you do a lot of pulling with the ol-truck. Good Luck,
>
> Patrick A. Hollister '58 step
> West Burlington, IA.
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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