390 overheating

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Apr 13, 2009 | 04:50 PM

texasjr

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390 overheating

My 73 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive 390 is overheating. It had a problem took it to the shop and he said (I trust him) that it had an exhaust leak at the head gasket. My son and I replaced it got it running only now it overheats. In the process the shroud got destroyed. I remembered that the head gasket could be put on wrong so we switched it around and bought a shroud, it still overheats. This belong to my dad and I want to drive it again. My son drove it and everything was fine until the head gasket incident please help.

Apr 13, 2009 | 05:12 PM

justforkicks

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From: Alston, MI

was it put on wrong the first time around, before you got the shroud? is the radiator original? how long does it take before it overheats?

Apr 13, 2009 | 05:33 PM

highboy1975

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From: southwest pa

an exhaust leak at the head gasket?? ok, well, the head gaskets i put in my 390 were labeled front and back, and it would have been impossible to put them on upside down. sounds like it needs pulled apart again to double check everything.

Apr 13, 2009 | 05:48 PM

texasjr

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The gaskets I used were fel pro (I think) and were both marked the same and appeared to be for the same side, there was a piece of paper that said one had to be turned. As for the exhaust leak you could hear it but also feel it at the base of the head. The rad is about four years old. The outside temp is about 70 and it took it about 15 min to over heat. According to the gauge and it did have some fluid coming out the overflow

Apr 13, 2009 | 05:53 PM

texasjr

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also could timing be causing the overheating?

Apr 13, 2009 | 06:27 PM

texasjr

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I just started the truck again it ran for a few minutes then went to hot BUT I was able to take the raditor cap off as it was not hot?

Apr 13, 2009 | 06:32 PM

Holiver31

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are you using the factory temp. gauge? They are very unreliable due to the fact that they are 36 years old. Try the basics first before you go the attacking the head,,flush the radiator,,make sure there arent any blocks in it,,check your water pump,,all of these things may be fine and its just the gauge acting up.