37 flathead heating

W

Wagcat

Junior Member
I just purchased a 37 coupe with stock flathead. I am having some over heat issues and it acts like it's vapor locking when it heats up and then is very hard to keep running if you get it started again. If I understand correctly this engine has two thermostats, I assume one on each head. I was going to start there and then look into the water pump. Any suggestions for a first time flathead owner? Thanks
 
Describe the "over heat" issue. Is is boiling? Don't depend on the temperature gauge to be accurate....Sounds to me like the coil is suspect....
 
It did not boil over. Being new to me I shut it down when the temp gauge hit 212 or maxed out in the sight gauge. Do the coils act up when hot?
 
Also when it got hot it acted like a vapor lock situation and wouldn't start until it cooled way down.
 
Wagcat said:
It did not boil over. Being new to me I shut it down when the temp gauge hit 212 or maxed out in the sight gauge. Do the coils act up when hot?
Click to expand...

Yes, the coil will act like vapor lock when hot....90% of problems diagnosed as vapor lock are actually a coil problem....
 
Wagcat said:
Also when it got hot it acted like a vapor lock situation and wouldn't start until it cooled way down.
Click to expand...

It's common for these old, aged Ford coils to break-down and essentially quit performing their designed function as they heat-up. When they cool down after 20 minutes or so, they'll crank right up again and work fine, 'til it gets hot again. The symptoms almost always mimick "vapor lock". Send that coil to Skip Haney in Florida. You'll have it back in about a week and it'll run wonderfully from now on. We need a little more info on the overheat issue.......more history and details. DD

Skip Haney in Florida. Cost $83.00 to rebuild coil, including shipping.
contact skip@fordsrus.com
 
Also, get yourself an infrared temperature gun. The temp gauge in your '37 are notoriously inaccurate....

Or, you can use a meat thermometer in your radiator....
 
Thanks for the lead on Skip. I wish I had more history but I just got the car Saturday and didn't get it home before it acted up. Happened again yesterday so haven't driven it much.
 
Some of the old bikers would carry a can of wd-40 to spray on the coil, to cool them down when they started to heat up.
 
Interesting, sounds like a fire looking for a place to happen. Wonder if compressed air might do close to the same. Thanks
 
welcome to the 'Barn....got pics?? good luck with your '37...do one thing at a time to see if it cures the problem......what liquid in radiator??....how much?....both water pumps turning???....etc....etc.....Mike
 
good toughts. I belive in looking at the easy stuff first then go from there. Liquid is green antifreeze and while I haven't tested it looks like more antifreeze than water and is full. Both water pumps are turning. I did a temp gun test tonight and both sides are equal in temp and the gauge is close to temp at sending unit spot in head. Some feel it is more of a coil issue than vapor lock from high temp since no boil over. Deciding where to go from here. Thanks, Bruce Nice pic by the way!
 
quick test with out an infra red gun, with engine running put your hand on the OUT SIDE of radiator fins, the top should be hot the bottom should be fairly warm, if rad is hot at top and much cooler or cold at the bottom rad is probably restricked, also slow timing will cause an engine to run hot, a bad condensor will do the same as a bad coil, drill two 1/8" holes in thermostats near the out side of thermos, one on each side of thermo, these are air bleed holes, lets air escape from the engine and rad when refilling with water
 
put some good stuart warner grudges in. a oil pressure and a temp. I have a 36 pickup I put them in, it saved the motor. use the mechanical ones you may be suprised
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I want to stay as original as possible but realize the need for good info on how the engine is running so working on where to put some quality mechanical gauges like under the dash where visible but not obvious.
 
I have mine under the dash on the left side of the steering calumb . I watch them all the time, I just like to know what is going on under the hood
 
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