Cooling issues

[monsterbronco]

Took my 74 for it's first real test since I bought it 4 years ago(major work in progress) It ran ok but got WAY to hot for my liking!! We didn't put much strain on it mainly just road through BIG 4 wheeler trails on our hunting land. Had some decent size hills we climb but nothing major. I might have road 15-20 min and Iwas sitting on 260. When I bought it I had the same proble so I replaced thermo, water pump, and Radiator. Now my motor came out of a early 80 LTD so that made it a left handed water pump which made buying a radiator difficult, but i found somebody out in Cali to build me one. It stays 190-200 just driving it I sit and ideal 3 to 5 min it will jump pretty quick but as long as it is moving it is fine. Any ideas? I was told to move my fan closer to the radiator, anybody see any truth to that?

Next problem I went through a creek and was climbing up the other side(not a major incline) and it went dead over and over again. I had to get in the base of creek and just punch it to keep it running. Any ideas on the problem. My thinking is the gas is running out of the bowl on the Carb but would like to hear some more educated theories and how to fix the problem .

 

[Bronc76]

what degree thermostat are you running now?

 

[Seabronc]

If you are off roading, then you are going slow. The main problem is that your water pump is least efficient at low speed and idle. 1. I'd put a lower temp thermostat in it like a like a 185. 2. Get an over sized radiator, like a 3 core. 3. If you are running A/C then turn it off. 4. Get a large electric fan like one from a Lincoln mark VIII (3500 CFM). 5. Flush your system. 6. Use a little antifreeze as possible (antifreeze is great for cold weather but it does not conduct heat as well as water), you still need a rust inhibitor. 7. Get a full time water pump (they keep the water moving better then a mechanical one). Depending on your conditions you may want to some or all of these things. Also, if you don't have a shroud on the radiator it will overheat because the air doesn't flow through the fins efficiently.

I have an oversize radiator (one for an A/C system but I don't have A/C), a clean system, and a Lincoln 3500 CFM fan with an electronic control which I only run at high speed. In the winter the fan only comes on if I set at idle for about 10 minutes. On the hottest days in the summer with surface temperatures around 130 + degrees it only comes on if I'm below 35 mph. This time of year it will come on after i set at a light for a couple of minutes. I have never had the engine temperature get above 195.

Good luck,

>-

 

[monsterbronco]

I may show my ignorance here! I've got 2 questions:

1. Does the fan from the lincoln replace the original, if not where do I mount it?

2. Which way should the WP be turning so I can look. It is a for sure a lefted handed pump on a 80 model LTD 351W

Thanks again for all the help

 

[MUZZALL]

You say that you have a custom radiator, if the fins are to close together it can cause low speed, low rpm over heating.

A friend of mine is in the proses of replacing his $500 radiator that kicks ass at 30+ mph or 1500+ rpm, but sucks at low speed, low rpm trail running.