Radiator question

Baileigh Inc

Baileigh Inc

Member
Topped off the radiator a couple days ago and have notices some coolant around my engine compartment. Have not thought too much about it as much of it has been going out the overflow.


.....took a rather long drive today up the lakeshore, ran like a champ. Got to my friends place and we notice more coolant, not a bunch, but a couple drops here and there.

After squeezing the top hose, we both realized there is no pressure. Is this normal? Is there no thermostat?

 
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I don't know if you have a stat, but it is an almost zero pressure system. Model As love to find thier own coolant level so she probably barfed up what it could not contain once she was up to operating temp. Coolant expands, fills every void, and shoots out the overflow pipe. Normal. Check your fluid level now and make note of it, that's prolly where she'll run all day. Add more if you want a mess in the engine bay.
 
The level of the collant in the top radiator tank should be around the same height as the grill shell badge. That means about half full

The cooling system is not pressurized. It will burp out anything it can't hold when the heat expands the coolant out of the overflow tube. You may want to put a little rubber hose at the bottom of the metal overflow tube if that tube doesn't extend down below the crossmember through the little hole there.

Happy Model A'ing. They always need fiddling with a little bit.

Oh, and if you aren't overheating or don't have loss of power or an oil pan full of water, just keep chuggin along!
 
One thing you should do is replace your 1930-1 lower steel water pipe with the correct 1928-9 pipe. You can see the angle on the front of the pipe doesn't match the radiator outlet angle. This can make it prone to leak, plus it puts a strain on the radiator outlet. Good original pipes are hard to find, but repros fit and work well.
 
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