some checks that you should state to get proper help
has the rad bin cleaned (by a credible rad shop)
do you have the correct fan and shroud
is the therm new.
as a55 ford auto trans the torque is air cooled, at long stops like traffic lights, i would shift to n not park .
after this info you will get credible feed back

I've got an aftermarket temperature gauge, the sender is installed in the same spot as the factory gauge.

I'd say a little of all. It'll climb very slowly when cold idling, slowly when cold and just driving stop and go gently (30/35MPH), it'll raise pretty quick when stopped and idling when hot, and it'll raise the fastest when cruising, when its at high speed like (40-60MPH).

Well maybe I'll have to record the jump in idle and post it here, hard to know what is normal without any frame of reference. I DO think that I may have to re-do my timing. When I had my carburetor rebuilt by CarburetorsANDmore they for some reason, aside from having me get a fuel pressure regulator, had me set the timing to some universal setting that they said all cars with their rebuilt carbs should have. But now I'm thinking I should try going back to the factory timing, because it never did quite make sense to me that a carburetor should determine the engine timing. Maybe I'm wrong?


I did take these readings with a vacuum gauge awhile back. Maybe it'd be helpful?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keEh5naZZ-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv-cHtj9LEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp61E5BfG84

How are you determining the temperature?
Does the temperature climb only at idle or very low speed?
Or does it climb at cruise?

The rpm should change a little between drive and neutral / park.  A big change or none at all does indicate some issue with the tune.  It could be carburetor and/or, ignition.


Lawrenceville, GA

Hey there guys! Getting to be spring again, time to get the old Fairline out of hibernation and ready for shows.

I was curious about two little things:

-I've had issues with temperature on my Fairlane for awhile now, those here who remember me probably know. Most of the issue seems to have been tied to a bad spring on the exhaust valve. So needless to say I've been keeping an eye on my temperature out of habit at this point. I've noticed this though lately. It takes my 272 almost 30 minutes to reach around 190o (operating temperature), granted I drive my 55' very gently, treat her like the respectable old dame she is, but I'm just wondering if this is normal even for gentle driving. It seems like a long time, but then again I've heard cast iron blocks take longer to heat up then modern aluminum blocks

Kind of funny, an engine that has had issues with running too hot, ironically takes so long to get up to temperature initially. She still does run hot eventually. Hovers around 180 for awhile, raising and falling between 180 and 190 or even 200. Then at some point the cooling system just starts to say "screw it" and it'll start slowly raising up to around 220 or more and I'll have to stop. Luckily though again out of habit I don't take her on very long drives so it rarely ever runs that long to get that high.

-The other question. When cold my car will idle the same speed no matter what gear it's in (Fordomatic). But when my Fairlane us up to operating temperature if you shift out into Park or Neutral, the idle will go from normal up to an elevated idle almost like you have your foot on the gas a bit.Kinda makes me want to shot her off while in gear just to avoid it doing that as it just.. doesn't feel right. Is this some sort of timing advance or carburetor issue maybe or is it even an issue? Just seems weird that it'd jump up to a way faster idle when out of gear.