My Dad was a great Chevy shade tree mechanic. I helped him completely
rebuild a 37 Chevy which had gone thru the Vanport (Portland OR area) flood
in 1948. He would take a suspect thermostat,and a thermometer, and suspend
them in a pan of water on pieces of wire. The thermostat, if working
properly, would start to gradually open. It would, if memory serves me, be
100% open when it hit it's rated temp. When you check the radiator for water
movement, you can put pieces of cardboard in front of the radiator to reduce
the airflow, and help it reach operating temperature faster. But don't
leave it unattended!! Bob K in PHX
----- Original Message -----
From: "wayne osborne" <wayne@chevytrucks.org>
To: <bigfred@unm.edu>; <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 6:17 AM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] T-stat, cooling system general info...
> My understanding is that at 180 degrees the t-stat will pop open. You can
> take one an put in a pot of boiling water and watch its operations, be
sure
> to put a thermometer in there for temp references. Someone already touched
> on the fan--as it should be anywhere from 1/2 in and 1/2 out of the fan
> shroud-or very close to that, but not all the way inside as you'll get air
> turbulence inside the shroud cavity and it won't suck air through. You'd
be
> better with it sittin more outside than inside-meaning it can be 1/3 in
and
> 2/3 out and still be ok. The diameter of the fan should come close to the
> diameter of the shroud opening for optimum air movement, I have about 1/2
> inch clearance between the outside edge of the blade and the shroud.
> Curious how the system reacts when on the road or are you seeing this in
> a non driving situation. I agree with Bob in his comment if it gets above
> 212 or so, there's a problem with your system. If your system reacts the
> same when driving, a pusher fan will not help you any. At highway speeds
> the fans are basically not doing anything as the wind should carry enough
> air to cool.
> Have you pulled the radiator cap and made sure that water movement is
> occurring? You should see good flow and should be able to visibly see the
> movement.
> You mentioned 2 temp gauges, is the one in back getting up to 212 or
so,
> what is the front one reading? Sounds like something is not quiet right...
> Remember that these trucks originally came without a shroud...
> --wayne
>
>
> At 02:26 PM 10/6/03 -0600, bigfred@unm.edu wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >I'm trying to get some basic info regarding how my cooling system
> >works, or should work.
> >I have a totally new system, including motor, heater core, water pump,
> >hoses and radiator.
> >1- How does a T-stat work? I have a 180 degree T-stat. Does it *start*
> >to open at 180, or is it fully open at 180?
> >2- I have a factory temp gauge in the front of the motor and an
> >aftermarket temp gauge in the back of the motor. My back one always
> >reads a few degrees hotter then my front one, which I would expect.
> >However, I start to get worried when I see it creep up around or above
> >210. Given that the system is pressurized and the boiling point of H20
> >is 212 at sea level, it seems like the system should be able to operate
> >at well above 212. Is this correct?
> >3- What is the ideal fan set up? I have a non-flex fan w/o a clutch.
> >It is set all the way inside my shroud. I have heard that it should
> >sit 1/3 out and 2/3 inside the shroud. Is this correct? if so, why?
> >Should I run a clutch? Should I just ditch the engine driven fan and go
> >with an electric fan?
> >4- What is the opinion on auxilliary pusher fans? Are they just a
> >solution to a problem that is not being addressed?
> >
> >I know I've asked a lot of questions, but I can't seem to find a
> >general concesensus on these.
> >-Thanks
> >-alfie
> >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
> Wayne Osborne
> http://www.chevytrucks.org
> http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne
> 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
|