Overheating Problem?
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Overheating Problem?
Hey all newb here. 
I have owned my 1979 F150 since I was 16. 
I hope that I can be help to some and they can help me back. Well first things first I guess. How many of ya'll go wheeling? I try to get my truck out all the time if possible. One problem though. My truck is heating up. It's got a reman 400 with a new 4 pass radiator and a new water pump. Not sure what else it could be other than the thermastat. That was new when the motor was put in. Any help out there?
I have owned my 1979 F150 since I was 16. I hope that I can be help to some and they can help me back. Well first things first I guess. How many of ya'll go wheeling? I try to get my truck out all the time if possible. One problem though. My truck is heating up. It's got a reman 400 with a new 4 pass radiator and a new water pump. Not sure what else it could be other than the thermastat. That was new when the motor was put in. Any help out there?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,038
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From: Spokane WA
Is that a Washington Plate I see on the front of that truck???????
Nice Truck
Eric is asking because your issue could be due to poor air flow at high speeds, or a thermostat issue, bad sending unit, a million things..... more info needed.
One quick check though is to remove your thermostat and put it in boiling water with a candy thermometer and see if it opens at the right temperature (190 ish????)
Nice Truck
Eric is asking because your issue could be due to poor air flow at high speeds, or a thermostat issue, bad sending unit, a million things..... more info needed.
One quick check though is to remove your thermostat and put it in boiling water with a candy thermometer and see if it opens at the right temperature (190 ish????)
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Springfield, OR
Yes we need more info. Just to throw a couple things out. Go under and squeeze the lower hose between your fingers. There should be coil spring in it that prevents it from collapsing. This happens sometimes at high RPM-just like when you try to suck a thick milkshake through a straw and the straw collapses. Make sure there are no obstructions to airflow in the front of the truck, make sure your carb is not to lean(any backfiring ?) and timing not to far advanced and do you have a fan shroud in place around the fan? Does your fan have a hydraulic clutch in the middle that could be worn out? If you do a lot of wheeling the fan shroud and clutch would be critical due to the low speeds.
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It's fine when I'm driving at high speeds, and just idling around town. However when I go out wheeling, as soon as I hit the gravel road it starts to heat up. My dad had the truck before me and he took off the fan shrowed, not sure if that makes a difference? Maybe I should put a new thermastat in it? Any suggestions. Yeah those are WA plates. Custom ones too...
Thanks, Josh
Thanks, Josh
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by JBSF150
It's fine when I'm driving at high speeds, and just idling around town. However when I go out wheeling, as soon as I hit the gravel road it starts to heat up. My dad had the truck before me and he took off the fan shrowed, not sure if that makes a difference? Maybe I should put a new thermastat in it? Any suggestions. Yeah those are WA plates. Custom ones too...
Thanks, Josh
Thanks, Josh
Yes you should put back the fan shroud, it helps direct air through the radiator, which is critical to cooling.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Replace the fan shroud. A good rule of thumb is that Ford did not put any parts on your truck that are not required for operation. They love to save money by eliminating a screw or bolt so if they could eliminate a whole part they would love it. If you do not know what a part is for, -find out before you remove it and throw it away. Some of those parts are expensive and hard to replace.
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True to that one. I need to find a shroud then. My dad took it off and can't find it. Look for one of those, then a new thermastat and what else? Drain radiotor and all new fluid. Maybe I will do that this weekend. While I'm in the process of looking for a fan shroud. Who all is around this area?
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Try checking looking in the radiator for any debris or scaling from the remain. engine. I put a remain. engine in my car and didn't flush out the water jackets prior to installing it and all the remaining rust flakes from the boiling job they did on the block plugged the crap out of my nice new radiator. Hard lesson learned!
