Engine Heat

quote:

My question is this...after running it for a few minutes, it became apparent that my temp gauge isn't working. Not sure if there is a thermostat issue or a gauge issue. I plan to run a mechanical one for the time being.

First, did you properly bleed your cooling system? The simplest way is to jack the rear of the car up as high as your floor jack will go, fill, start the car and run it for 10 minutes; fill some more; and repeat a few times.

Second, make sure your thermostat sending unit is mounted in the correct location in the engine block. Originally, it was mounted in the side of the rear coolant tank, which yields a less than accurate reading at best, and fails to register actual engine temperature if you experience a coolant loss and the level is below the sender.
http://www.banzairunnerpantera...dates_thermostat.htm

I found that my stock temp gauge was spot on when verified with an IR temp gun.

As for the rubber exhaust brackets, was this the first time your engine has been fired up following the rebuild? A fresh engine always runs hottest during the initial break-in run as the components are wearing in for the first time, which could have been the cause of your exhaust hangars melting. Other causes could have been age, or someone may have fabbed their own out of an inferior rubber. Mine were a gooey mess when I bought my car. Order a correct set from one of the vendors or maseratisource.

And CONGRATS on returning an other Pantera to the road!

I didnt bleed the cooling system. I was anxious to hear the motor roar, was primarly only checking out my recent carb build. My after thought was that i should have done a thorough cooling system inspection so that after i got it fired i could work on the idle and tuning with out worrying about my heat. I will investigate the location of the thermostat and make sure i have the correct 351C 160 or 180 thermostat. If it is on the engine block is this a difficult job? I assume it would be easiest to do through the access pannel on the fire wall.

Could someone please help me identify which radiator I have? I dont see any name/PN on it without removing it.

Since the car was through Halls in the 80s, I THINK this is the "Meriah" radiator. If I do a good flush, verify/replace the thermostat and do a system bleed think this will be sufficient to at least have confidence to do a short cool weather road test?

It appears to be a stock radiator. "Meriah" refers to a fan model. Can't tell for sure if those are Meriah fans. I did notice a third fan added as a sucker fan. I'm curious as to how it was mounted.

Looks like a stock style radiator, possibly a bit thicker - maybe a Hall Phoenix radiator, but not sure. If it's not leaking I wouldn't worry about it. And those are Mariah cooling fans from Hall.

The 'bleed procedure' I outlined above, I forgot to mention that each time you need to open the bleed valve on the driver's side upper corner of your radiator too bleed air out of the radiator too.

Bleed your cooling system and take it for a drive!

And if your temp sender is on the engine block, then you're golden - that's where it's supposed to be!

Stock location of temp sender (Note that I've replaced the temp sender with a petcock that allows me to drain the top-half of the cooling system for thermostat & water pump replacements, etc.):


Correct location for temp sender in engine block (visible just above pipe plug in water pump, behind the alternator bracket):

You'll also notice that Garth is using double hose clamps.

Can anyone tell me If I can put a mechanical gauge at the location in the block? Is there clearance for the probe? I would prefer to run a mechanical gauge as i dont even know if my stock gauge is functional. Before starting the motor, i ran a mechanical oil pressure gauge...should have done one for the temp too. Can i do the modification shown above through the access pannel?

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Can anyone tell me If I can put a mechanical gauge at the location in the block? Is there clearance for the probe?

Yes.

quote:

Can i do the modification shown above through the access pannel?

Yes.

John

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You'll also notice that Garth is using double hose clamps.

Yes, I'm using double hose clamps on those small heater lines, but almost everywhere else I'm using very high quality Breeze HTM-200 Stainless Steel Hi-Torque hose clamps.

quote:

Originally posted by BLUE 72:
Can anyone tell me If I can put a mechanical gauge ...

Just curious why mechanical gauges are your choice of replacement instrument? There are better electrical gauges and senders that can replace the existing gauges, use the existing wiring, have more accuracy and look pretty much like the original Veglia.

I suggest the VDO Vision Chrome Series Gauges. They speak "SAE" and look great. Got mine from E-gauges.com
http://www.egauges.com/vdo_gro...Series=Vision_Chrome

Wow!! I like that look, very nice and clean looking

I got now have the correct thermostat for the cleveland engine. I am going to install that tonight. I also was further investigating the water pump, and mounting locations for my temp guage. I am going to install it right where the brass plug is shown. [IMG][/IMG]

quote:

Just curious why mechanical gauges are your choice of replacement instrument? There are better electrical gauges and senders that can replace the existing gauges, use the existing wiring, have more accuracy and look pretty much like the original Veglia.

At this point i am just looking to get a quick accurate reading on a temporary guage pannel. I will likely convert the other gauges into something resembling what you have done in the near future. Very nice looking by the way.

I believe this is a factory ford water pump.
Stamp on it says "30816" "CSP 2" Google search didnt return much info on this.

Out of curiosity what is the purpose of that bracket in the upper right hand corner attached to the head?

At one point in time there was a nitrous system on the car. There are still some accessories mounted on brackets such as the one seen above.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave2811:


I suggest the VDO Vision Chrome Series Gauges. They speak "SAE" and look great. Got mine from E-gauges.com
http://www.egauges.com/vdo_gro...Series=Vision_Chrome

I've been wanting to replace my VDO cockpit gauges with chrome but didn't have a source for it. Thanks for the info.

For anyone who is interested...I have found a few issues that was causing the excessive heat.

First, I pulled a windsor thermostat out of my Cleveland motor :/

Second, there were air pockets in the system. when i pulled the thermostat out, there was no fluid that came out.

COuld somebody tell me if I am looking at the cast block, or if this is the "plug" that the cleveland thermostat "hat" is supposed to seat on?

Have a look at George Pence's excellent sticky post in the Engine section of this forum. It has a picture there.
Engine sticky
Yours looks like it is there but yours has goop on top??