Overheating issue - 1929 model a fordor

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rembrandt78737

Junior Member
Finally, after several years of restoration, the Ford 1929 Model A Fordor finally left the garage (much to my wife’s surprise). Problem is, it’s overheating badly. Spiking actually. Radiator seems to not have issues. Water pump? New radiator?
 

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Nice looking car. You did a great job. It is not unusual to have some things to sort out after completing a car, overheating being one of them.

Overheating can be caused by the ignition not being timed correctly. Are you using the timing lever to find the optimum position? See owner's manual.

It can also be caused by the fuel ratio being too lean. Are you turning out the GAV to find the optimum position? See owner's manual.

Another thing that can cause overheating is a restriction in the coolant flow. Do you have a thermostat installed?

Other than that it is likely the radiator. Is the radiator an old original one? I bought a Berg radiator for my car and it eliminated my overheating problems.

The radiator should dump its load of water in 2 to 3 seconds. Take the bottom hose off and plug the outlet. Take the top radiator hose off and fill the radiator with water. Unplug the bottom outlet and see if it drains in 2 to 3 seconds. Even if it passes this test it could be that the fins are loose on the tubes which will cause the radiator to be inefficient.
 
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Spiking, or did you mean spitting? If it is spitting out from the radiator cap or overflow, most likely it is overfilled. Water level should usually be just above or below the baffle.

Have you checked the water or coolant temperature with a temperature gun or thermometer?

Like nkaminar said, you will find many an item that will need some attention after all the work you have done.

Good looking vehicle!

Tom L.
 
Another check you should make is for a head gasket leak. If your head gasket allows combustion air into the water chambers nothing else you do will solve your heating problem. It is very easy to check for a head gasket leak. Fill the radiator so you can see the water level with the radiator cap off. Start the engine and look for bubbles surfacing in the radiator. Combustion air is super hot and it does not take much of a leak to boil your coolant. Before installing a new head gasket, check for cracks in the head and the block. Use a couple coats of copper coat on both sides of the head gasket.
 
If the head and head gasket are a new install, retorque the head before you consider replacing the head gasket. Allow the engine to cool completely before retorquing.

W. Michael
 
Check your temperature with one of these placed directly into the coolant. You may not be overheating but just have too much coolant and it's pushing it out.
 

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That's a beautiful blind-back Fordor. The black upper body paint extending over the tank and hood really adds to the already long lines. Drive that "A" proudly. LRF
 
Dirt Track has a good point. How do you know it is overheating? The radiator will spit out excess coolant and find its own level, which is usually just below the baffle in the top of the radiator.
 
my roadster kept overheating........previous owners complained of the same. used vinegar in the rad and thought I had it clean. still overheated.


ending up washing out a ton of "mud" that was in the engine block. have a feeling previous owner just grabbed an old engine and installed, all the while, the body, interior and top were all restored nicely.
so there are a few things to look at, but start with the most obvious first. radiator......
thermostat.
 
My A spits out of thee radiator cap until it finds it own level. I remember the first time this happened to me I was very concerned. Turned out it is normal.
 
wwirz said:
My A spits out of thee radiator cap until it finds it own level. I remember the first time this happened to me I was very concerned. Turned out it is normal.
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I'd seal the radiator cap, the overflow tube is where the excess should spew.
 
It is almost always the radiator. When I bought my car it had one of those cheapo 2 row radiators. Hopefull that is not the case.
 
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