66 Cruiser, boiling over

[EHarnett]

Hey all, today when I finished work I stayed late and changed the water pump and t-stat on my 66 Cruiser, which has the 283 V8, the water pump is working, but on my way home I had to pull over once, the car was boiling over, and the throttle linkage had fallen right off the carb at the same time....not sure how the cotter pin fell out..anyways, I put a 180o F T-Stat in it, could that be the problem? Im not really sure what I did...the Thermostat that was in it was put in up side down, it was alsot a 160o F Thermostat, which I didnt figure out untill I had changed it...any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Eric Harnett
1966 Cruiser
Hamilton Ontario
Hamilton Chapter

[Dick Steinkamp]

Was the car overheating BEFORE you changed the water pump and thermostat?



Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[EHarnett]

Sorry about that, no it was not overheating before I changed the water pump and thermostat

Eric Harnett
1966 Cruiser
Hamilton Ontario
Hamilton Chapter

[Dick Steinkamp]

the 180 t-stat shouldn't be an issue. That is pretty much standard for an older Chevy V8. 180 is still well under the boiling point.

Your boil over issue must have something to do with the work you did. Perhaps the old t-stat was in correctly and the new one is backwards? The t-stat should say "to radiator" (or something like that) on the side that goes up.

Did you put the spring back in the lower hose?

Is the cap on tight?

Fan belt proper tension?

All air out of the cooling system and full?





Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[EHarnett]

Im pretty sure I put the t-stat in with the "to radiator" facing up, but Im going to pull it all apart to make sure, and the spring in the lower hose.... there wasnt one when I took the hose off, what kind of spring is it? the cap is tight, the belt is the proper tension, and Im not sure if all the air is out of the system, because when I try to get it to bleed out with the cap off, it eventually starts shooting coolant out the top filler neck.....so Im hoping I just messed something up


Eric Harnett
1966 Cruiser
Hamilton Ontario
Hamilton Chapter

[Chucks Stude]

Could there have been an air pocket in the system after you reworked it? Gotta let the thermostat open up with the radiator cap off to make sure all of the air is out of the system. Also, make sure the heater is on when you are doing this also.

[showbizkid]

Eric, there should always be a spring in the lower rad hose! It is the side of the inside diameter of the hose, and is there to keep the suction of the engine pulling coolant out of the radiator from collapsing the hose. Whether this turns out to be the problem or not, you should definitely get a new lower hose with the spring intact.


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard
http://studeblogger.blogspot.com
www.studebakersandiego.com

[sals54]

There is also the possibility of the water pump being bad. Where did you get the water pump? Call the store where you got it and ask if they've had any returns. It could be the impeller is spinning on the shaft and not circulating the water.
Check the thermostat and lower hose first. Always do the cheapest and easiest fixes first. In other words, you don't rebuild the engine just cuz it won't start. JK

sals54

[EHarnett]

Well, I had a faulty thermostat, and the biggest air pocket I have ever seen, now the car runs nice and cool, thanks for all the help everyone

Eric Harnett
1966 Cruiser
Hamilton Ontario
Hamilton Chapter

[Roscomacaw]

COOL![8D]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

COOL![8D]

Literally

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA