finally got the 390 running. now my problem is the radiator when i drive it from the store and back the radiator sounds like it is boiling. some of the fluid drains down from the over flow.its not really bad but its like everytime.i took the thermostat out thought it might have been stuck the problem is not as bad but still happens everytime. the motor is fresh about 135 miles on it .from what i have read here is that it sould be in the warm range when running a fresh engine .the gauge in the dashs was working i guess but i bought a new one and it read around 130 to 145.that is driveing it around town and comeing back home. when the one in the dash was hooked up it never got over half way from the cold side. what is happening with it .someone told me that it was a head gasket .could it be my water pump .the water in the radiator seems to flow well .there is no coolant in the oil.when i crank it in the mornings it smokes at first but then clears up. no coolant from the tail pipe. sorry the message is so disoriented but its the only way i could get it all out oh and i replaced the rad cap it was a 16 lb now a 13 or 12 lb if any other info is needed i will post more thanks for any replys

 

Do you have any antifreeze or is it just water? Still has to get to 212 degrees to boil. Is it a lound banging noise inside the radiator or is it just a light boiling noise. Loud bangs are air pockets.

 

Do you have any antifreeze ? yes



. Is it a lound banging noise inside the radiator or is it just a light boiling noise. {more like a belch} or {rumble}

 

What does your temp guage say?

 

the gauge in the dashs was working i guess but i bought a new one and it read around 130 to 145.that is driveing it around town and comeing back home. when the one in the dash was hooked up it never got over half way from the cold side.

 

Most of the time air pockets occour in the thermostat area. This will cause a false reading on the guage as there is no water around the sensor. Take the cap off and fill the radiator. Let it idle with the cap off until it starts to come out the top. Your guage should say whatever the thermostat is rated for at this point. If a long time passes with no increase in temp then you still have a pocket. You can sometimes clear the pocket by massaging the upper hose.

 

68, Most fellows fill the rad to the top, and it has been my experence that the FEs just don't like it there. I have found that if the fluid is a couple in. down from the neck it is happy there. I put a new rad. on my truck when I installed the fresh engine, & left the level down a couple in. and it is still holding there.

 

If you think you have an air pocket, the easiest way to get rid of it is to jack the front of the truck up slightly and run the engine with the heater on until the thermostat opens, with the radiator cap off.

I keep my coolant about two inches down too and run a 6 lb. cap with a 195 thermostat.

On a new engine rebuild, assuming the radiator is not clogged, the hoses are not collapsed, and the engine is not making an excessive amount of horsepower, I would look at three things:

1) bad timing
2) excessive lean condition
3) gaskets put on the wrong way blocking the water passage in the pump, thermostat, or head area.

Best way to find things is to run the engine until hot. Shut it off and start feeling things like hoses, intake manifold, water pump, fuel pump, etc. If you feel something cool enough to keep your hand on it, you might have a problem.

 

The water level in the radiator should be just above the tubes. The top tank of the radiator acts like an expansion tank. If you fill it to the top cold, it WILL push a bunch of water out of it. Eventually, it will level out and stop overflowing. Low-and-behold, it will be about 1/2" above the tubes ...

A few friends of mine have had their Fords overflowing and couldn't figure it out. Until I told them to leave room for expansion in the radiator.

This does not include setups with a seperate expansion tank.

art k.

 

Ditto on the fill thing, All three of my fe's would spit the top
2inches out if I ever filled to the top. Theres a 390 thats
rebuilt,an oil burner, and a half decent 360.

 

Another thing that you might do is take it to a garage that can test the antifreeze for engine combustion gas's, it is an easy test and is inexpensive, the last one I did my friend didn't even charge me forit, good luck
Todd

 

67, What is this test for?

 

It test's the antifreeze for combustion gas's. Wich in turn can tell you if there is a bad head gasket.