flathead running temps? mine too hot?

[jhaas63]

Hi guys,

I bought a laser temp reader just because I dont trust my 60 year old gauges in my 1953 f100. I put new thermostats in my 8rt flathead in the fall. The truck seems to run fine. However, when I run the truck I check the heat reading on both heads. I usually get a reading of about 200-215 degrees on both heads. Seems kind of high but I dont know. Am I worrying about nothing?

 

[eshaver]

Maybe a little . I have a similar situation. Oh I have a 51 Mercury in a 53 Ford F-100 panel. One head runs at about 190. The other head runs at nearly 200. Yes, I run two separate gauges under the dash ..............

 

[G.M.]

First check your laser thermometer on some items of known temperature, example items in an air conditioned house that is kept at a steady temp. The place to test the temperature on your engine is the goose neck where the stats are. Keep the gun the same distance, same angle and same spot every time you test. The water in the goose neck is the end result of the water being heated. The two sides of the engine are separate cooling systems and only mix in the radiator. Other places on the heads vary in temp due to hot spots. After testing with the stats remove them and test without them under the same conditions. Best test are made with a house fan AGAINST the grill and the engine running at a speed of about 15 MPH. Take tests
every 5 minutes and write them down. The thermostats may have small flow openings and restrict the flow of water. If you have 180 stats the engine should get to 180 in about 5 minute and hold 178 to 182 as long as you have good air flow through the radiator. Bob Shewman makes stats that have large flow openings with almost no restriction for your engine with goosenecks and 32 to 48 engines that fit in the hoses. If that's your problem contact Bob at 1-610-933-6637or gadgiteer@aol.com
The fan in front of the grill is the best way to test because the conditions are the same all the time. Driving the conditions change and you get different results. G.M.