My 49 Sixer runs hot ! How can I cure it

[jaredyocum]

my 49 flat 6 seems to run warm on the temp gauge ,(212) At time , what do you suggest I do for it ? full of coolant and has a good tight fan belt , does not appear to have evr had a shroud . Any ideas ?

Jared S Yocum

[Dwain G.]

First, verify the actual temperature with a cooling system thermometer or infra-red heat gun. Does it ever expel any coolant? When does the temp. rise, at prolonged idle, or when pulling a long hill? Is the truck still 6 volt?


Dwain G.

[2R2]

My '49 Pick-up with the champ-6 ran hot when I first got it. Had to pull the head, core plugs, and water pump and clean out all the water passages - the rear passages were packed with crud. Once everything was clean, I put everything back together, and for the last ten years, it has run perfectly cool.

Eric
'49 2R-5 (orginal survivor)
'63 R2-Lark (barely surviving)

[jaredyocum]

I will have to verify temp tonight. It does not ever expell any coolant though and happens when out on the highway for 10 minuets or so. Not loaded hard though, just crusin around 50 MPH.It is now 12 volts with a GM ault.

Jared S Yocum

[hank63]

Before you pull the engine apart, check the radiator surface temp when the engine is quite warm to hot. Best done with a "laser-pointer" type meter, but can be done by placing your hand on the front rad surface. You are looking for reasonably even temp distribution across the width of the rad. A cool section often indicates no-flow (blockage).
/H

[John Kirchhoff]

Before you tear into things too far, you might also want to check the thermostat since it may not be opening up completely. If the antifreeze is old and dirty, that will reduce its ability to transfer heat.

[jaredyocum]

I checked the temp of the head around the temp sender it was around 200. I will drain the system and clean it out. My semi working on type frien said that the best way to clean a cooling system is drain the antifreeze and fill with water and a bottle of liquid cascade and run for two hours then drain and fill a 3 or 4 times

Jared S Yocum

[60Lark]

I would suggest that you pull the freeze plugs and then flush the block, you will probably have to scrap the muck from the bottom of the block via the freeze plug passages with a piece of welding rod or coat hanger. I will almost gaurantee that you will not remedy your problem until you clean the bottom of the engine block. Flushing from the top only will not break up the 58 years of crude that has settled to the bottom.


Studebaker Fever
60 Lark
51 Champion
Phil
Arnold, Missouri

[48M5]

When I disassembled my original M5 engine, it had a larger than standard size water pump pulley. That made the water pump run slower than normal. It's a long shot but could be a contributor to the higher temp. --48M5