Overheating at idle

[Alvin in AZ]

Run lean at idle can alos casue overheating.
Have you checked the fuel ratio at idle????
Steve

Yeah, what Steve said. :)
Steve, could you post a link to a "how to" using a vacuum gauge and tach? :)

Alvin in AZ

[thebannister8]

take a look at this...mine was frozen and caused all sorts of problems, including over heating....also the stock fan is highly agressive...i'd stick with that http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =3&t=42904

[theogre5150]

I think I may have solved my problems. I replaced my old electrical gauge with a new mechanical gauge. I also went back with a 180 deg. thermostat. I drove out to my grandfathers house yesterday which is around 45 minutes away and the temp remained 180. Same thing when I came back. However, we have been having some rather cool days as of late here is Alabama. It will be interesting to see when we get back to our normal temps so I can know for sure.

[theogre5150]

Update: I was getting some lunch today and I waited in the drive through line for at least five minutes, maybe longer. My temp went from 180 deg. to 210 deg. Does that seem right? I had to get up the road a little bit for my temp to come back down.

[Alvin in AZ]

Update: I was getting some lunch today and I waited in the drive through line for at least five minutes,
maybe longer. My temp went from 180 deg. to 210 deg. Does that seem right? I had to get up the road
a little bit for my temp to come back down.

Sounds exactly like what my '75 360FE +T18 +PS was doing! :)
But it was happening at those long lights they have over in Marana AZ. :(
(I turn the sucker off at "windows", see? ;) (also had the A/C off :/)

I had new "everything"...
12 blade "Flow Kooler" water pump
4 core radiator
tested Robert Shaw 195F thermostat

A guy in an FE/FT website forum mentioned idle ignition timing and so I adjusted it
from about 4* BTDC to about 10* BTDC and the problem went away just like that. :)

Not too long after that I found and fixed my vacuum leak too tho.
It was the "tomato juice can", it had cracked from rust as if a can-opener had been used on it. ;)
Soldered it shut but took buying a hand operated vacuum pump for me to find it. :)
http://www.mityvac.com/

Alvin in AZ
http://www.flowkooler.com/tech_support/
http://flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/catalog ... 6a75b40e7f (FE's but no 240/300 6's listed? :/)

[theogre5150]

I'm currently set at 6 deg BTDC. I could probably bump it up a bit and try that.