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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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Over heating problem

Hello all, new to the site ,bigblocks and fords.

I have a 73 460 in my 90 bronco and I just got the truck road worthy. I'm having an over heating problem. After 20 min. of driving it will hit 200 and just keep rising after about a 10 mile ride it was shooting antifeeze out the over flow. However, if I let the truck sit at idle. It will stay around 190 for 30 min.
I have a heavy duty 3 core radiator (Bronco) with dual electric fans. I noticed the water pump was flowing water. I'm at a lose. I do not know what I should do next to fix the problem. Can anyone please point me in the right direction. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 12:39 PM
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I had an 84 Mustang that would overheat on the freeway but not in town. It would also idle for days and never overheat. It turned out to be a failed spark advance.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 04:41 PM
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When it is warmed up. can you verify that the water is cerculating through the engine with the radiator cap off? Do you have heat when you turn on the heater?
When it is cold and running, is your top water hose full of pressure? When it is hot does the pressure of the top hose go away? Answer us these question so we can better understand.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 07:19 PM
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overheating

Yes I was getting circulation in the radiator. I don't have a heater core. I am getting presure in the top hose. I just put a new thermostat in it today a 190 and still have the overheating problem. I just got this truck. I'm at a lose on what it is. I was thinking it was the timing but it idles fine and drives great, lots of power. However, I did notice today when I stopped to get gas it had a hard start almost like the battery was dead and the temp was 200. I'm realy just lost on what I should do. Any advice would be welcomed. thank you .
 
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Old Mar 15, 2006 | 09:08 PM
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OK, hang on just a sec. What radiator are you actually running with the 460? The biggest engine available from the factory in 1990 was the 5.8. A smallblock radiator will most likely NOT handle the kind of flow needed to effectively cool the largest big block V8 Ford ever put in the light truck series. The radiator in my brother's 90 F-250 with a 460 dwarfs the SUPERCOOL radiator in my 92 Bronco. Second, what kind of CFM's are you supposed to be getting from the dual electrics?
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 10:35 AM
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I agree the rad is probably too small.Do you think you have enough capacity to cool a smallblock v8 PLUS a four cylinder engine off your present rad? That is what you are trying to cool-a 351cid plus 109cid four banger.For sake of peace of mind ,when you have the rad cap off,make sure that there are no air bubbles in the coolent.The bubbles would indicate a leaking head-gasket or a cracked head which could make it over-heat.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 01:22 PM
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few questions

The radiator is made for a 5.8 Bronco I'm pretty sure of that. I compared it to my friends bronco and it is the same size!! As for the bubbles in the coolant, shouldn't there be some bubbles in it when the caps off? Wouldn't I smell coolant in my exhaust. That's what happened to my expidition had a bad head gasket and I started smelling coolant every time I started it. I'll check it out just to make sure. Does anyone know what size radiator I should be running and if it will fit in my bronco. Thanks for helping me out with this. I had nooooo clue there were so many different things that can happen with the cooling system. Once again thanks everyone for the help.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 03:23 PM
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swap out the rad for a nice 4 core unit. are you running a clutch fan or electric fan?
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 05:52 PM
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i'm running 2 electric fans. would you happen to know if they make a 4 core that will fit into my bronco with out any kind of major cutting.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 06:54 PM
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Yeah the 5.8 radiator will NOT be able to keep up with the flow demand of a 460. I'd suggest looking into an OEM radiator and bracketry from an F-250/350 of the same vintage. The 460 was stuffed into the same engine bay with a properly sized radiator right out of the factory so you should be able to get the necessary radiator and mounting hardware as OEM parts. Chances are very good that you will need to upgrade the electric fans as well. You need a LOT of air across a LOT of surface area to cool a 460.
 

Last edited by greystreak92; Mar 16, 2006 at 06:56 PM.
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 07:12 PM
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Change the thermostat. I had the same problem with my 1995 F-150.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 01:38 PM
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Well, I have installed a new 195 thermostat, flushed my system and radiator. I still have the overheat. None of my hoses were collapsing. I am going to replace the water pump because i have no clue how old the one in it is and if' it's the right one. i found a 4 core raditor for big block conversions. It is supposed to fit right where the stock one was and at $400 bucks my truck will have to wait for it. Thank you to all who helped me out. i can't tell you how nice it is to see there are people still out there willing to give a hand. thanks!!
 
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