Overheating FE's. I have to wonder if someone didn't bore the engine past specs. I've seen that a few times in the past.

 

Travis, what makes you think your engine is 'overheating' ? Running at 210* all the time would be just about perfect. Idling in traffic with the AC on might get up to 245-255. So what ? Thats not overheating. Overheating, as has been mentioned, is when your puking out coolant and the radiator fluid boils. If thats not what is happening to you, it might just be that you neeed to learn to be comfortable with how warm an FE usually runs. There are however a few things you can check. Is your ignition timing advanced enough ? Running a bit too lean maybe ? What kind of waterpump do you have ? A 'flow cooler' or a Stewart or a genuine Ford pump work better than the generic pumps that the auto parts stores sell. And the pulley thing, you may want to try the largest crank pulley and the smallest waterpump pulley that you can find. That will increase water flow quite abit if the ones you have now are turning it too slowly, DinosaurFan, on work's old cast off 'puter

 

so you're saying that an engine running at 245-255 is ok for it? How is that? I know 210 is fine for it. As a matter of fact thats the optimal temp for combustion/emissions. Thats why all GM's have their electric fans kick on at 210. Still hotter than I'd ever like mine to get just b/c it's unnecessary heat that will cause the system to break down that much sooner. I read in a GM owners manual that they do not recommend idling for prolonged periods due to heat build up and the cooking of electronic components and so forth. Sorry for all the GM talk...I'll go wash my mouth out. It's just that I have a 180 thermostat and thats where I want her to run. No more than 200 regularly. The big deal I'm having is just not having "control" over the system. Thats why I'm gonna "trial and error" putting an electric fan on and see if that allows me to control it. I'm not always the only one driving my truck and i don't trust the people in my family to watch the temp gauge on habit like i do. Need a way to control this problem or figure out the hidden problem causing this.

 

None of my FE's much less any other engines from the 60's and 70's ever ran higher than 210 max under any circumstance and it shouldn't either. 170 to 190 depending on the thermostat.

 

Ya see thats what I was thinking too, otherwise wouldn't they be making 220+ thermostats if it was ok to run that hot? Then you'd have great heat and everything so why not? B/c it cooks the system! Look at how often you have to put hoses and heatercores and such w/ a 190 system...do the math. And at 250, you know that cracklin sound that engines make when they've been workin real hard and are really hot when you shut them off? Ya thats not good either. I do agree that 255 is probably not technically overheating assuming you have about a 16lb cap to up the boiling point but thats 50 degrees of unnecessary heat on the motor.

 

Ok, to answer some of the questions, but first, I think that I know what is doing it now, but not always. I am going to have to get out there and do a compression leak down test to see if I might have a blown head gasket or a cracked head. I popped the cap on the rad the other day and it was all foam, gave it a little gas and it started bubbling and it smells like gas... soooo, might just replace the engine while I am there, been wanting to anyways, this looks ike a good excuse. but I think that at idle, combustion gasses were filling up the water jacket and not being pumped out cause the engine wasn't turning the water pump fast enough. but that still doesn't answer the question of why it was overheating in the first place. no it was never over about 220 to 230 that I can remember, I would always freak and try to find cover (get moving to get it to cool). also the clutch fan that is on it came off of my 350, and I never had a problem with the heat on it. the truck doesn't have ac (wish it did in GA) I had a 195 in it and it would run about 210 in the dead of winter, summer came around and stop for 3 seconds and it would be at 220. the water pump is a advance auto part, will be putting a highflow on next. the timing chain is a little loose and I am not too sure what the timing is at. I had it set at 10 degrees and was getting backfiring when I got in the secondaries, so I set it by trial and error. I'm just gonna have to replace everything and start from scratch I guess. hopefully when I get the new engine in I won't be asking the same questions. or if for some reason the engine isn't screwed, then I will be right back in here.

 

that is exactly my problem

 

A plain jane compression check should show you which cylinder(s) are bad. The bad cylinder's plug should be real clean compared to the rest too.

 

yeah, I know that but it isn't steaming AT ALL out of the exaust, on startup or running, which is why I m not sure, and there isn't any colant in the oil either. so I am not sure if the plug will get the standard steam cleaning that they normally get with a blown head gasket. I will pull them out later and pass the info on here for the curious.

 

and on top of that, I'm gonna steal your quote, I think everyone should carry, then we wouldn't really have any crime

 

The quote isn't mine, so it is your's to use. I totally agree with it and have done so for over 42 years. I have even started open carry on occassionas of late, since it is legal here.

 

Here, Here!!! I am all in agreement!!!

 

hey FordGuy, where abouts in fayettville are you? Are you near 54? I'm just a rocks throw from you.

 

just so you know, my profile says NE ga but thats where I go to school. At the moment I'm in stockbridge, Henry county.

 

I am off 54 outside of peachtree city. not too far at all