c-1 radiator

[Dwight bedsole]

I have just completed installation of '58 270hp rebuild. New radiator, core support, hoses, 7-lb cap, water pump, shroud, baffles, 50-50 distilled water/coolant and thermostat. While trying to adjust carbs. (idling for 5 minutes or so) it runs hot and boils over. The timing is set at 7 btdc. All that I can think of is trapped air. Any suggestions how best to get trapped air out or any other ideas as to what might possibly be the problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dwight

[Dennis C.]

C-1 radiator

What does your temp gauge show???

On my cars, I typically drill two 1/16th holes through the flat part of the T/Stat to facilitate air removal on startup. In addition, on my '57 - upon initial fill it would continue to puke out water until it reached a point where it was happy and would stay there. Kind of like an expansion tank with no reservoir.

[Dwight bedsole]

Re: C-1 radiator

Dennis thanks for the suggestion - holes in the thermostat to let out the trapped air, makes sense to me.
The temp. would get just shy of 220, then boil water out the overflow.

Dwight

[Dennis C.]

Dwight... 50/50 should not boil at 220*...

...with a 7# cap in my guesstimation. I'd give it a few warm ups and then take this sucker for a drive and monitor its (temp) behavior. The "boil over" you are seeing may simply be expanding coolant rather than actual "boiling" of the coolant... In radiators with no expansion tanks, the fill level in the rad will always be "low" to allow for expansion.

[Dwight Bedsole]

Re: Dwight... 50/50 should not boil at 220*...

Dennis, you are right. Water boils at 212 F at atmospheric pressure so 50/50 and 7 lbs should elevate the boiling point.I used the term boil over when it could just be expansion but the engine was very hot and the temp gauge ( new sending unit) registered close to 220. Could I have possibly installed the thermostat incorrectly? I am out on business for a week so will try your suggestion when I return.

thanks
Dwight

[Dennis C.]

T/Stats are easy to install...

...upside down. If you're going to drill it, check that the "pill" (the thing that reads the temp) is facing down. If you have a "new" sending unit, I would be hesitant to believe a word it says. Might try a mechanical gauge stuck in the rad or one of those neat IR temp guns to confirm accuracy of what the temp gauge is telling you.

[John H.]

Re: T/Stats are easy to install...

Odds are extremely good that your new sending unit is causing the gauge to read 20*-30* hot; check it against an I.R. gun shot of the upper radiator hose just above the thermostat housing so you know what the gauge is really telling you. You'll also see a "Full Cold" embossment on the radiator tank, several inches below the fill cap level, to provide room for coolant expansion. If you "top it off", it WILL "puke" some coolant (due to expansion), then won't puke any more; as Dennis said, it'll find its own "happy level" and stay there.