Finally finishing up the truck, all new brakes were done so we took it around the block which totals about a mile and pulled in the driveway and you couldn't even touch the radiator. My mustang would never be THAT hot in such a short period. Timing is right on. Only thing I can think of is do I have something plugged in my cooling system? Should I try the womens panty hose trick in the upper coolant hoses and see how much crud I can get out of the system? Runs great, idles great. Temp gauge does not work, (stock in dash and always reads H even when its cold).
Soo Hot!
- Thread starter mustang8
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GreenMonster48
Well-known member
What kind of truck? What motor? I'd get a temp gauge installed ASAP, even if it's an aftermarket one just to hang off the dash.
GreenMonster48
Well-known member
By looking at your profile, you're running a 48 Ford pickup with a Flathead. My radiator is hot to the touch on my Flathead powered '48, but runs 180 all day long. That's still no excuse for not having a temp gauge.
I have a Stewart Warner gauge hanging off my dash. It's only reading out of one head. Folks on here will tell you to run 2, but 1>0.
I have a Stewart Warner gauge hanging off my dash. It's only reading out of one head. Folks on here will tell you to run 2, but 1>0.
Fibber Mcgee
Well-known member
Wouldn't hurt to get a infrared thermometer and see what the radiator and block temp actually is. I can't personally tell the difference between 180 and 200 with my hand.
GreenMonster48
Well-known member
It's easy to tell the difference. 180 = Ouch. 200 = OUCH!
uncle max
Well-known member
The last trick I did with women's pantyhose, I got arrested.
Sorry yes its a 48 ford with an 8ba engine in it. It just seems weird that I can hear the antifreeze almost boiling and there's steam coming out of the oil fill tube. I agree on the temp gauge need, but its a stock cluster and not sure where I would put it without it looking like crap.
JSeery
Member Emeritus
You have several options, a hand held IR gun or a temporary mechanical temp gauge just to see what is really going on are a couple of them. They also make a temp gauge that connects straight to the head.
GreenMonster48
Well-known member
There's pretty much always going to be steam coming out of the tube, it's not temp related. I got a single gauge mount and mounted it to the dash under where the speaker grille is. I color matched the mount to the speaker grille. Not bad looking.
sidevalve8ba
Well-known member
Which would you rather have? A temperature gauge that looks like crap or a fried 8ba? Or you could repair/replace the original gauge. You are flying blind without functioning gauges.
But when I pulled in the driveway I could actually see steam coming out from the hood so it looked like it was overheating, there was that much. Yeah I have to get a working gauge in there.
Old Henry
Well-known member
To get a more accurate reading of my exact engine temperature even though my stock gauge was working I decided to install a mechanical temperature gauge on the left side of the engine so it would read that side more precisely and left the dashboard gauge to read the right side as it has always done. Can you find my second gauge in my dashboard?
Here it is:
I didn't want it distracting from the authenticity of my dash board so I put it in the glove box to be able to check it when I want to or just leave the glove box open if it's at a critical temperature and I want to watch it. Otherwise, it's out of sight.
Installation was less than 30 minutes. Only hole I needed to cut was in the back of the glove box. Sensor passed through my steering column hole with ease.
And ran right up to the left side sender port. I know, it's distracting from my authentic engine compartment. I'm going to cover the tube with black friction/cloth tape so it won't stand out so much.
Gauge cost $17.95 at AutoZone. I tested it's accuracy in heating water on the stove with its sensor and my wife's candy thermometer in the water. It read about 5-7 degrees higher than the candy thermometer which is good for it being in the left side of the engine that's usually about that much cooler than the right side so that I really do get a pretty accurate reading of the hotter right side.
Joe Immler
Well-known member
I installed a Stewart Warner temp and oil pressure gauge. Now I know EXACTLY what my temp and pressure are. I highly recommend this. It does sound like your engine is running hot. Check for a thermostat that is stuck closed. The fact that it got so hot in a short trip around the block is a good indicator of a stuck 'stat or other blockage. you might drain and remove the 'stats, fill with distilled water and add some Water Wetter. Then see what the temp is on your aftermarket gauge. If it is still hot then other items surface such as rodding the radiator. Once you have things fixed then go back to anti-freeze and 'stats for winter.
Tinker
Well-known member
I like the sw gauges too.
Autozone ones are good, cheap and available most everywhere, I had one on my truck for years and they worked great. Changed them over to sw gauges, they look nice, but at a slightly higher cost.
One sample, different length capillary tubes are available.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sww-82326-60/overview/
Autozone ones are good, cheap and available most everywhere, I had one on my truck for years and they worked great. Changed them over to sw gauges, they look nice, but at a slightly higher cost.
One sample, different length capillary tubes are available.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sww-82326-60/overview/
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Old Henry
Well-known member
The gauge I used comes with the adapter shown in the picture and other sizes as well.