32 Four Cylinder Radiator Cure

345 DeSoto

345 DeSoto

Senior Member
I'm using a 32, four cylinder, zero pressure radiator to cool the blown Hemi in my 32. It cools BEAUTIFULLY whether at prolonged idle, or at consatant highway speed. The problem I had is/was twofold...the cap wasn't seating properly, and the coolant constantly went out the overflow at normal operating temperature. It reached a certain level and stayed constant (just at the level of the overflow tube). But when I shut it off, it would surge from heat soak, and run out more coolant...not much, but enough to constantly have to replace some. What I did to cure it was to dress the sealing surface of the neck as best I could, then add a thin layer of closed cell foam to the sealing surface of the cap. This made the system air tight (except for the overflow tube). I then installed an over flow container and connected it to the outlet of the overflow tube. Problem solved!;) I had considered one of George Haney's pressure valves, but it wouldn't have allowed back flow, so I did the closed cooling recovery system. Not an original idea, by far, but it does the trick...:D
 
Consider this...I sort of invented it in my mind long ago, and plan to test it out someday on a '32.
After fixing cap leaks, add a hose from overflow tube to your container. Put on a 1/8 pipe thread Tee fitting. Get a pair of Streetrod brake pressure valves...available, cheap, small, made for low pressure opening. I think they come in two pressure ranges, both a bit on the high side for an early Ford radiator tank, so get a hand vacuum pump as testing mechanism and jack around spring lengths till you get one into 4-6 pound range for OUT and one lower than that for IN. Puttem on the tee so high valve controls outflow into container, low one lets it back in when radiator cools down. Purely hypothetical invention, have not built one yet...
With '32-4 Fords you have the advantage that radiator cap works can be easily disassembled for gasket work and perhaps a thin shim to tighten seal.
 
Thanks Bruce. Interesting idea and one that I'd like to try. Where and what valves could be used?
Thanks
Jim
 
Streetrod suppliers have multiple brands of external residual valves for brake systems; here are some at Speedway
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/ProductSummary.aspx?free_text|8/4/2010%205:11:56%20PM=brake+valves&deptId=0

They are what I would start messing with...the 2 lb looks about right for the return suckerupper, 10 is pretty high for an original radiator tank. I would look around for 4-6, mess with the spring in the 10 or shim the 2 and try to get lower.
I know some of these valves are failure prone in normal use, and I have NO idea how they would enjoy swimming in coolant, but I would buy something name brand and try it out...fairly cheap experiment that does not require altering anything substantial on the car. Let me know how it works...my life has been such over the last several years that I don't have anything old running!
The pipe thread connections would make it very easy to build the unit out of Weatherhead Tee and a small hose nipple.
 
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