The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk It's alive....53 3100, 216

Got it running, to a refreshing spray of vintage rusty water and the dulcet tones of a wrecked water pump.
Now to change water (and probably fuel) pump.
Brakes are next.

Congratulations!
I remember my first fire up . Truck was parked since 1971 it fired first try...Love it.
Keep us posted.

Hard to beat the euphoric feeling from a 216 first startup.

Not much better than an engine coming to life after 50 years. Wow, congrats!

Got the offending pumps off.
Now to find new stuff, scrape muck off the engine, paint bits...
P.O. said it wasn't running very well.
No. 3 and 6 lighting hoses were crossed, both coil wires were dicey, etc...
Now that the waterpump is off there are no strange noises.

That is such a great moment. I remember all the sounds, the aroma and the site of it running for the first time. Congratulations!

Lets see more pics of the happy truck

"the dulcet tones of a wrecked water pump". I like that!
My '59 had those when I first got it running. It wouldn't have occurred to me to describe it that way. Wish I had thought of it!

Maybe it’s me, but I don’t understand this statement. Can you elaborate?

Phak1

Lighting hoses = sparkplug wires.

That was going to be my guess. Hadn't heard them called that before.

That is what I was thinking too, but I also never heard them called that before.

Thanks Brian, for the education!

Ha. I might have to use it. Never heard em called that either. Kinda like it.

^^^This^^^

Phak1 On those plug wires if you get a chunk of dirt in your main jet you can cross 3 and 4 and it will blow the dirt out so you can get home !

De-crudded and pretty.
Waiting on waterpump to arrive.
Which temp thermostat is recommended?

Waiting...

Thermostat choice is dictated somewhat by climate and intended use. I live in SLC, Utah which has four seasons and 100 degree summer days. I don’t drive my truck much in the winter but do in good weather. I had a 180 deg. at first which ran too hot in summer. Now I run a 160 deg. which does not leave me wondering if it is going to boil over in traffic or leave a puddle when I park it.

I defaulted to a 180.
I have heard 160s may not allow coolant to remain in the radiator long enough to effectively disipate heat.
I'll see what happens.
Thanks.

phak 1 You need to watch vice grip garage to learn new terminology Derik (spel) he is just full of it,fun show !!!

Congrats! The only better feeling is watching it MOVE ON ITS OWN POWER!! Keep goin'!

That first ride clearly trumps the all be it awesome first start.

"Water not stay in the radiator long enough to cool..." Old wive's tale. The racers up the flow rate as much as possible to reduce hot spots within the engine. I've run with no thermostat and it never got above 140. I run mine over the mountains (5600 ft.) in the summer and found the 180 is too hot. Engine is noisier when it's hotter. 160 seems just right. I no longer drive it in the winter because the state is now using de-icer on the roads so I just leave the 160 in year round.

A little math quickly dispels that notion. If your coolant flows slower through your radiator dissipating heat, it also flows slower through your block and heads, gaining heat. Your engine head temp is around 400 degrees, or 220 ABOVE the ideal engine coolant operating temperature of 180 degrees. Ambient air flowing through the radiator is approximately 80-100 degrees (depending on the weather), or 80 degrees LESS than the ideal engine coolant operating temperature. 220 degree gain versus 80 loss - the slower the coolant flows, the more it will heat up.