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| | | | Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 131 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 131 | What temp should the engine run at? '37 216 with recored radiator and heater core. New water pump, 160 degree thermostat and new hoses.
Temp gauge shows consistent 180 degrees. Is that right.
Thanks
John | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Is it a new thermostat? What is the make and part number? It may start to open at 160 degrees and is fully open at 180 degrees. If you have in sitting at idle on a hot day - does it hold steady at 180 degrees? If you drive it long distances on a hot day - does it hold steady at 180 degrees? An original-specification thermostat was rated to start opening at 140 degrees and would be fully open at 170 degrees. 1937 specifications | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 | What's the pressure rating on the new cores? Originally, you would have had a "zero-pressure" system with the vent tube located in the top of the upper radiator tank and a simple radiator cap without a pressure spring in it.. If the recore included a new filler neck intended for a pressure cap, you could be running any of several pressure-rated caps that could raise the boiling point of the coolant. Either way, 180 is a good figure. The thermostat sets the MINIMUM coolant temperature- - - -the size of the radiator, the airflow across it, and the flow rate of the water pump will establish the maximum temp. A non-pressurized system will boil somewhere near 212 degrees, depending on altitude, and each pound of pressure raises the boiling point 3 degrees. A 15 lb. pressure cap raises the boiling point at sea level to 257 degrees. If the coolant isn't boiling the engine is NOT overheating!
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 | Only read posts that tell you what you want to hear | | | | | Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 131 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 131 | The original radiator was recored and is still a zero pressure system. It is a new thermostat.
It holds steady at 180 at idle. Still working on getting this thing road worthy so I can take it for
a ride. It sounds like 180 is an good temp. Coolant isn't boiling so I guess I'm ok.
Thanks everybody. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | My 38 216 has a modern 160 thermostat. Driving it produces a steady 160 deg. reading. If I leave it to idle on a warm day it will go to 180 and stay there. This was after rebuilding the engine including tanking the block, a new radiator and a truck fan. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 | 180 degrees is right on the money. Mine always runs between the "8" and the "0" of the 180 mark. When at idle on a hot day it will move into the "0", but never past that. I use a 4# cap.
You need a completely clean water jacket, clean radiator, and good water pump to have this kind of consistency. I have had this with 216s and 235s.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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