1914 Touring Runs Hot

E

Ed in Maine

Well-known member
I know this topic is as old as the car is. Today I took four neighborhood children and one adult for a 8 mi. ride. Temperature outside was about 80 F. The car did run good with no missing. I wish it had a bit more power but what Model T owner didn't wish for the same thing! By the time I got the car back in the garage it was gurgling and pushing steam out the overflow tube. It gurgled about three minutes after the engine was turned off. The following applies to this car:
1. Tire pressure is 65 psi front tires and 70 psi in the rear tires.
2. New radiator
3. There is no water pump.
4. New Anderson timer.
5. Recent rebuild on an NH Carb that does give a quick start and runs nicely.
Is there anything I am missing that I could do to make the car cooler? Is it possible that the ethanol in the gas could be decreasing the available power and making the car run hotter? Has anyone experimented with an electric water pump? I do have a 12 V battery under the rear seat to run the coils on a start. I use the mag after the car is running. The car cannot be left running at an idle if I want to stop and talk with someone. It will be boiling within minutes.

Thank you for any comments. Ed
 
Sounds like you are running with your spark not advanced enough.Will cause overheating and poor performance.
 
Agree to first check the timing. When you placed that 'new' Anderson, what timer was on it before? If you didn't have to bend the timer rod to the column, then your timing is off, as the Anderson isn't a drop in. Recheck and reset for correct timing.

Then check your fan blades for pitch, and the fan belt for tightness.

Lastly, assuming a new radiator, with new hoses, did you remove and check the water and inlet casting by removing from block? Sometimes gobs of old stuff can be there.. (Once found an old style thermostat between the upper outlet and the cyl head that stuck there by someone, that really was a surprise to me ).

And the lower metal pipe should be checked too, some use a long rubber hose there but that rubber hose can collapse with the heated water and hurt the flow of the coolant. Radiator should be filled to just above the baffle plate, leaving room for expansion in the top tank to prevent boil over out the vent pipe.

That should provide cool running, unless some other friction source like dragging brake shoes or other mechanical contact or lack of lube in the driveline (univ joint, rear end, etc) is adding its toll.
 
if the cooling system and the timing is all good, might try inriching the carb alittle. i was always taght that a lean burn is a mean burn.
 
Ed, if all else fails, you might try flushing the block. I have seen the water passages completely full of a scale looking substance. Probably caused by water with a high amount of minerals.
You almost have to pull the head to clean all those deposits out. Sometime you have to drill open some of the passages. Good luck
My son and myself drove two model T's to a church picnic today in 105 degree temperature. Both ran cool, but both cooling systems had been cleaned out during recent major overhauls.
PS My body cooling system told me to go home to the air conditioned house.
 
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