F E Overheating

QUESTION:

I HAVE A 63 GALAXIE 500 WITH A 390, POWER STEERING AND NO AIR COND. DESPITE MANY ATTEMPS TO SOLVE MY OVER HEATING ISSUES, I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AT STOP LIGHTS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

ANSWER:

IT CAN BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE KEEPING YOUR FE COOL, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR IN A HOT CLIMATE AND LIKE TO RUN IT. ASSUMING THAT YOUR ENGINE BLOCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE [NOT SLUDGED UP IN THE WATER JACKETS], THERE IS A GOOD THERMOSTAT, [180’ OR LESS] AND A GOOD WATER PUMP, IM GOING TO FOCUS ON THE RADIATOR AND FAN AREA.

THIS IS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR ERROR, SO HERE AREA FEW TIPS. ASSUMING THAT YOU HAVE AN UNMODIFIED SYSTEM, CHECK THE BELT FOR CONDITION AND TENSION, [BUT NOT TOO TIGHT], YOU SHOULD HAVE A 5 OR 6 BLADE FAN, THE OEM STEEL WORK GREAT, AVOID A FLEX FAN. THE FAN SHOULD BE NO FURTHER AWAY FROM THE RADIATOR THAN 1”. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT LIKE WATER, AIR WILL TAKE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE HENCE AROUND THE RADIATOR INSTEAD OF THROUGH IT. ITS ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL OF THE PROPER AIR DEFLECTION SEALS IN PLACE AND IN GOOD SHAPE, THESE HELP TO PREVENT THE AIR FROM GOING AROUND THE RADIATOR. THEN AFTER THESE CHECKS HAVE BEEN DONE, TEST THE OPERATION OF YOUR RADIATOR BY FEELING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CORE FROM THE FRONT SIDE WITH YOUR HAND, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPURATURE, FEEL FROM THE TOP DOWN, THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE COOLER AT THE BOTTOM. [BE CAREFULL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF]. IF IT IS NOT, HAVE THE RADIATOR HOT TANKED AND PRESSURE TESTED BY A REPUTABLE RADIATOR SHOP.IF A REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY, RECORE YOUR COPPER RADIATOR, AS THIS IS A BETTER CONDUCTOR FOR HEAT TRANSFER THAN AN ALUMINUM REPLACEMENT.