Re: 401 operating temperature

Thanks all for your help!

My initial timing is now at 10-degrees. The vacuum pulls it another 15-degrees. I'm thinking of backing it off to about 8 and replacing the thermostat and reducing antifreeze concentration.

What makes me think about this is the fact that back in '74 when the car was new, they were built to be driven in all climates pulling trailers up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped. I'm just trying to duplicate that and add my bolt-on stuff I mentioned before, which should not make that much difference.

I initially did have an air pocket when I first put the engine in the car, but I soon took care of that.

Does anyone make an adjustable vacuum advance for the Motorcraft distributor? I'd like to back off the vacuum some.

Thanks again!

Bill Dettman

----Original Message Follows----
From: farna@xxxxxxx
Reply-To: mail-From-javelinman-hotmail.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: 401 operating temperature
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:07:26 -0400

Try a 190 or 195 degree thermostat. It won't make the engine run any hotter as in reducing overheating, it just lets the engine get up to operating temp faster. As Tom J suggested, check the timing.

I found oout the hard way that to much antifreeze is a bad thing! I had about 60% AF and 40% water in my stroked six (4.0L, now 4.6L). It would run hotter than it should on warm days, and boiled over a couple times before I figured out the cause. 50-50 is max recommended unless in really cold climates -- I was on the Mississippi gulf coast -- really hot and humid in July and August! Drained and started over from scratch -- no more overheating even on 90+ degree, 85%+ humidity days.

I heard on the news report here in Dover (Delaware) that there was going to be "oppressive humidity of 72% along with mid 80 degree temperatures" and couldn't help but laugh! That's a typical late spring/early summer day in MS, might even be a bit low in humidity!!

On July 15, 2005 Bill Dettman wrote:

Thanks for the info!
Well, I am running a M&M Supercooler trans cooler mounted ahead of the A/C condenser. There is an air gap of about 2 inches between the cooler and the condenser. I do suspect I may have a bit too much antifreeze concentration. I am thinking about draining about a half-gallon, replace the 160 thermostat with a 180, replacing the coolant drained with another bottle of water wetter and pure water.

=============================================================
Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist