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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / water temp

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tpls46ford

06-25-2025 @ 1:13 PM

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Have a 1946 Ford super deluxe convertible that seems to run hot. 155-160 degrees. Replaced both thermostats with new 160's. Drilled 2 holes in each one at 12 oclock and one at 6 on each thermostat. Still running hot. Waiting on a new radiator cap. 4lbs. When the car is running and the radiator cap is off I can't see any flow of water in the radiator. The radiator looks in good shape. No leaks or damaged coils. Was going to replace the water pumps next. Any thoughts or ideas out there?

tom

tom

nelsb01

06-25-2025 @ 1:24 PM

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Guess we need to ask how you know you are running hot at 160?
I would pray for 160. I just drove my 1949 Ford to Springfield for the 2025 Central National Meet and every time I stopped I opened the hood and used the thermal temp gun to check the head temps --- 203 drivers side, 204 passenger side, top of radiator 187.

You need to increase your idle to see water flow in the radiator top tank. Using a cooking thermometer (dont tell the wife) in your radiator will give you a much better feel for your engine temperature.

tpls46ford

06-25-2025 @ 1:41 PM

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Didn't tell the wife I used her meat thermometer. LOL Put the probe on the block and got the 160 reading. Ill check the flow in the radiator while accelerating.

tom

tpls46ford

06-25-2025 @ 1:43 PM

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used the wifes meat thermometer. Put the probe on the block and got 160. Ill check the flow in the radiator while accelerating the engine.

thanks

tom

carcrazy

06-25-2025 @ 2:55 PM

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Your Flathead Ford is not running hot! My rule of thumb for Flathead engine temperatures is that the water temperature will be about 100 degrees F hotter than the ambient air temperature. Applying this guide to the actual water temperatures, if the outside air temperature is 100 degrees, your coolant temperature will be about 200 degrees F. Of course the coolant temperatures will rise above this if you are accelerating or climbing a hill.

40 Coupe

06-26-2025 @ 4:02 AM

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I agree with the above posts. The water in the radiator should just cover the core. Too much water and it will come out of the overflow. Pressure caps on the radiator will cause the upper tank to bulge over time. Since you do not appear to have a problem suggest keep the original style radiator cap.

juergen

06-26-2025 @ 5:40 AM

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On my car, the (pressure) cap does not cover the overflow tube. I used a 3 pound pressure tube cap made by Skips to "seal" it and added a 3 pound pressure cap. This eliminated the loss of coolant while traveling at speed as the radiator didn't flow as fast as the water pumps would supply. I was told not to use a larger pressure cap as it would cause the upper tank to flex.

51woodie

06-27-2025 @ 5:38 AM

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When I bought my '46 Coupe, stock 59AB and rad, it had miss matched stats (160/180) and one was cocked 45deg in the hose. Reading posts about overheating , I installed new 160s, new style pumps, a 4psi cap, and had a rad shop "descale" and pressure test the rad. After a few trips, I replaced the 160s with 180s as the engine ran to cold for my liking. One thing that I believe helps with cooling is that it has a six blade fan, which may not be what came out of the factory. In talking with others, some causes of overheating, other than those listed in above responses, is missing top or bottom shrouds and or shroud seals. Recently did a three hour run in 80deg at 65-70 mph, and temp held at 180deg. with stock gauge sitting at mid point. City/town driving might get the temp to 185deg.
Temp shows lower than actual reading due to camera angle.

This message was edited by 51woodie on 6-27-25 @ 5:40 AM

tpls46ford

07-03-2025 @ 2:15 PM

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Well I replaced the thermostats, water pumps and a new radiator with a 4 lb cap on my 46 ford convertible flathead V8. Still running hot. 210 degrees. When the4 vehicle is running and I squeeze the hoses going into the radiator I really cant feel water in them. I can get a few air bubbles at the top of the radiator. The only thing i can think of is maybe the thermostats are in backwards? They are 160 and I drilled 2 small holes in them as shown on a diagram. Any thoughts?

tom

tom

tpls46ford

07-03-2025 @ 3:00 PM

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pulled 1 of the hoses that thermostat was in and they were in correctly. The new radiator had 1 1/4" outlet in the top. The original radiator had a 1 3/4" outlets on the top. I stepped the original 1 3/4" hose down to 1 1/4" using a metal sleeve to attach them together and attached to the top outlets of the new radiator. Could that be an issue? Any thoughts appreciated.

thanks

tom

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