3 Core Radiator, after market temp gauge,Remove stat in summer if all else fails I had a 351 Cleveland i put in a factory hi boy had to remove thermostat every spring to keep where i wanted on and off the pulling track u may also want to look at your fan there are many upgrade options

 

Be careful with pulling the thermostat. Most engine needs to operate at a certain temperature. Operating them at a cooler temperature can increase wear on parts. I might be wrong, but I think a 302 operates with a 195degree t-stat. Someone correct me if I am wrong. If your cooling system isn't good enough to to keep it near the correct operating temperature I wouldn't run the thing without a t-stat for very long, like only for an emergency or something. Fix the cooling system first and leave it operating the way it was designed to by some brilliant engineer.

 

I thought this was for a 1981 351M.

The original was a 195 degree thermostat. It was superceeded and replaced by this.

Motorcraft Thermostat: RT-1139: 190 degrees: Ford Number: XR3Z-8575-BA

Other Part Numbers... and you should check and/or replace the following...

1: Motorcraft Radiator Cap: RS-62: 13 PSI: Ford Number E5TZ-8100-A
2: Motorcraft Upper Radiator Hose: KM-1124: Ford Number: E0TZ-8260-C
3: Motorcraft Lower Radiator Hose: KM-1481: Ford Number: E5TZ-8286-B
4: Motorcraft Crossover Hose: KM-812: Ford Number: D5UZ-8597-A
5: Motorcraft Fan Clutch: YB-427: Thermal with A/C: Ford Number: E1TZ-8A616-B

Engine Coolant: 8A-19549-A specification: ESE-M97B18-C or equivelant: Green Ethelyne Glycol based. 50-50% or 60-40% Coolant to water depending on climate. Fill radiator to 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inch below the radiator cap sealing surface to alow radiator flow. Do not fill it brim full.

Remove all the debris from the radiator fins and A/C condenser. If the fins are bent or pinched, straighten or replace.

Fan shroud? Make sure it's in good shape or actually on the truck.

This and a good quality radiator: Get the 3 row as this was offered in A/C and Super Cooling equipped trucks.

The stock factory cooling gauge when working correctly is quite capable of warning you of problems. However after 30 years, ... still I wouldn't ignore it if it's telling you the engine is hot.

 

So far this year we have had two trucks with overheating problems.

1. 1995 F-700. We replaced the thermostat(s) and clutch fan and it didn't fix it. It was actually the guage in the dash. Got one out of an older Ford (the F600's and 700's use the 1980-1986 dash and interior). A new (used) guage "fixed" the problem.

2. 1982 F100. Replaced the thermostat with a factory (195F) replacement and still had overheating problems. The clutch fan slips more than it should; but that didn't mean it should be nearly maxing out the guage 5 miles down the road, the headers seem to help warm up the engine fast either way. Replacing the thermostat (again) with a 180F Mr. Gasket high flow 180F thermostat fixed the problem. Before installing it I did a quick google search, based on the experience that others had; it seems to be very high quality and reliable thermostat. (Take a look yourself)

The truck should have been fine with the 195F thermostat I installed in the first place, maybe it was defective.