I have just restarted my 56 (235 6-cyl) after a 2-year rest while did a frame-off restoration. it will need to be fine tuned, but for right now it starts up readily and idles nicely. I think it might be getting too hot though. the radiator is new, as is the thermostat (180 deg) and all of the hoses. the cooling system - except for the water pump - has all been replaced. After about 10 minutes, the temp gauge starts to climb toward "H" and eventually pins the needle there. I shut down the motor then. The upper hose was hot at this point, as was the top tank of the radiator. He bottom hose and bottom tank were quite cool. I then changed the temp sender (i have the electrical gauge/sender system) to eliminate that variable, but the same thing happened again after I restarted. I can think of a couple of possible areas where the problem may lie: 1) defective gauge, or 2) somehow the water pump isn't circulating the coolant either because it is bad or maybe its air-locked?; 3) blockage of some sort.

I also wonder if the engine is really overheating at all. Anyway - what ideas do you guys have as to possible problems or things to check? is there a way for me to take a reading (resistance or voltage) on the sender to calculate the temperature?

thanks for any advice.

1956 3100