Re: USINGATHERMOSTAT.......OR NOT?

Posted by Joe on April 16, 1998 at 07:38:27

In Reply to: USINGATHERMOSTAT.......OR NOT?
posted by Ken Smith on April 15, 1998 at 15:30:24

: I purchased a February 1929 Tudor Sedan last September and for the most part have had very few major problems with it. KNOCK ON WOOD!

Ken

I suspect you may not have previously noticed any overheating problems because you haven't really driven the car when the outside temperature was that high.I also suspect the thermostat was the former owner's attempt at a solution to the problem since the availability of the Model A Thermostat at the parts houses is a relatively new phenomenon.

Sounds overall like radiator problems.If your radiator is original (you can determine this from the judging standards or from a previous article in the Restorer (I forget what date) you may have the "cumulative build up disease" which can possibly be solved with a professional boil out or the more surgically comprehensive "removal of the core, rodding, and replacement" by a qualified radiator shop.If your radiator is a reproduction/replacement, you may be better off to purchase a good reworked original or one of the higher quality reproduction radiators rather than try to recover the old one at a radiator shop.

I myself have had one of the replacement "honeycomb" radiators (which was the 1950's era cheap replacement) and from which I previously have tolerated an occasional boilover.I had this honeycomb boiled out only since you can't actually rod out the honeycomb core in this case.The boiling out helped quite a bit with the heat dissipation but unfortunately the core is now so thin it keeps developing pinhole leaks, another small torment and not good for the front crossmember.There is a reconditioned (rodded and boiled) original radiator waiting in the wings for the completion of my restoration.

But it could also be timing problems.With my "marginal" honeycomb I have found that timing of the engine becomes crucial and small changes such as running too lean or too retarded can cause additional heat which can cascade into a boil over.Perhaps you can gain some on your problem (and forstall a wholesale replacement of the radiator) by approaching it from a number of different fronts.

The article I mentioned previously in the Restorer was interesting in that to recondition/recore an original radiator the author made dies, ordered copper flatstock and tubing and reconstructed an entire core for the original radiator, nearly like the original.

Hope all this doesn't further muddy your problem or discourage you from finding a solution.Let us know how you make out.

Best regards,
Joe




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