Overheating solved…kinda

Well, after a electric temp gauge install and numerous overheating…..one of which I believe cracked my #3 head. I finally dropped my engine temp 15 degrees. I put in a new head (actually Herbs auto in Signal Hill did) put in a new 3 cell aluminum radiator, a aftermarket fan and a new clutch fan. All of these things didn't cool it down. Guess what the magic trick was? The damn temp gauge was put in backwards (a $5 part)!!!!!!!

Now instead of running around 210-220 I'm topping out at 190. Not sure what else to do. My next step is to install a defroster in the doghouse. (saw it on Facebook)

Then on to the leaking gas tank.

Dave

1965 Econoline.

This is Where I'm at now.

What's wrong with 190? Seems better than most!

190 is cool. But I'm intrigued by the "defroster in the doghouse" comment. Details? Thanks-

Try adding water wetter its a anti surface tension agent and allows more of the water to contact the metal surface of the radiator making the cooling more efficient, also you can reduce the amount of anti freeze and add more water, antifreeze is less conductive that straight water.
You can also change (if possible with that model of fan) the setting on the electric fan so it comes on earlier, the real problem with these vans is when they sit, the engine being in a box with very little airflow builds up heat quickly.



http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=74&pcid=10

190 is ok I guess. As long as I stay there. As far as the defroster in the doghouse. I saw it on a Facebook post. The guy just put the fan part thru the doghouse on the intake manifold side and exhausted the collected heat thru the floorboard. He had it hooked up to a toggle switch and turned it on at stops. Seems like a great idea.

I'm going to use a 12v bilge blower to get the hot air out of the doghouse.

It was a dodge polara (i think) rear defroster that went on the package shelf on the car you mount on the rear of the doghouse or the the exhaust side to pull the air out ,,, 190 is a great temperature, the 6 likes to be warm just not too hot .. double check the timing and make sure it is advanced properly, if it is too retarded it can mean a 20-50 degree temperature difference ..

Copy that on the timing. I think its running great right now. I'm 190 around town and it creeps up to 200-205 at a stoplight but I switch on my fan and it brings it back down to 190.

Uglylarry had a similar issue with his 302. I think his auxiliary fan shroud was covering too much of the radiator which was restricting some air flow. He may be able to help if you pm him.