Griffin Radiators was recommended.

http://www.griffinrad.com/exact_fit.php

Well looks like I might hold off on a new radiator. Are there any ways to do an at-home do it yourself sort of radiator clean with the radiator out and face down on the ground? Like maybe fill it with some kind of cleaning break-down solution and letting it sit in there for a day or so then flush it out?


I was also looking at the service manual last night and saw this in the overheating section, under note: in the book. I have it marked. I'm not exactly sure what it's meaning though, that if you have a sender that's too long and touching the bottom of the coolant passage it'll read hotter then it should be?

It says insufficient clearance, not touching. Factory gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Just fired up my rebuilt 312 in my T Bird today. I went to the trouble of installing a second temperature gauge in addition to the stock gauge. Stewart Warner electric gauge with the sending unit installed in the passenger side head. It read 190-200 degrees while the stock gauge was on the low end of cool.

As mentioned, installing an overflow container would be a good idea, to avoid losing (poisonous) coolent. It should have a hose in it to near the bottom, which will allow the coolent to syphon back when the rad cools. Also check that the rad cap is suitable & in good shape. If the rad is old, I'd suggest not using a cap over 13 lbs. Really old & suspect? Use a 7 lb.. Hope you solve the over heating problem..   


Paul

Oh now? Sounds like you've got a bit of a cooling problem yourself then huh? I know the T-birds run a bit hotter though.

Is there a spot to put a second sender unit in the car? I noticed there's a plug in the side of the water-pump, would you be able to put one in there?

I finally picked up an inferred temperature gun also today. I'm also going to check my heat riser, I'm wondering if it's opening all the way when it's hot like it should. How much do you guys think a bad heat-riser would.. heh.. rise the heat?

190 - 200 is no cooling problem.  That is just about right and if it is stable withing that range, there is no problem at all.


Lawrenceville, GA

I put the second sender in the passenger side head. There is a hole there since the heads are interchangeable from right to left. May have had to get a threaded bushing to install in the head. Been over a year since I did that part. Yes I have had heating problems in the past. Now have a 6 blade clutch fan and a 16" electric fan in front of the radiator. Just got it running yesterday and weather is cool so won't know for sure until next summer if I finally have it licked. T Birds tend to run hot.

I thought normal operating temperature was 180.

180 is usual for a thermostat rating.  However, the thermostat controls the minimum operating temperature.  The actual operating temperature should be a little higher.



Lawrenceville, GA

Well I finally got some time to work on the car today.

I tried jamming the heat-riser open and then went on a drive. I went quite a distance in a big ol' circle, the car actually stayed right about at a solid 180! It got up to 200 while sitting in the driveway when I got back for about 5 minutes which is understandable. It was a cool day today though, like 60, so I'll still have to test more to be sure. But I took my wedge out and the heat-riser may have been my problem. Because at a 180 degrees the heat-riser was still closed and being repeatedly pushed open and closed somewhat by the exhaust stream. The spring must be bad because it apparently isn't opening up the riser when the engine is hot.