Reply to "overheating"

Sounds like you have the '71 overheating blues?

Those cars are notorious for this.

The stock Pantera L radiator is fine if it is in good working condition.

The L radiator had the intake tanks separated internally to create a cross flow radiator. It modifies the stock radiator so that the top half is the intake and the lower is the exhaust.

Stock '71 does not have that separation and puts the intake and exhaust into the same tank. It needs to be modified to the L configuration. Any radiator shop can do this for you. It is not rocket science.

You probably have the stock '71 gooseneck connection to the water pump also. That had a factory (dealer) recall on it to modify it.

The original had just a hose that tends to kink and block the flow.

The recall puts a small goose neck pipe in the system there.

You also probably have the original four blade radiator fans? Those were changed to 8 blade fans for more air flow.

Some of the early cars also have a manual switch to turn on the fans. The later cars come on automatically when the coolant in the radiator reaches preset levels.

This is ALL early Pantera issue stuff that was all corrected with the L models.

You can debate all that you want to over what the thermostat should be. I put a 160 in. It is not going to compound your cooling issues. It will give you a little more leeway with the system.

"Those that refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it!" - Winston Churchill.