Overheating Flathead
 

Just a thought has anyone ever tried the cooling trick Barney Navarro used. Placing a length of copper pipe behind the water pump cavity through the water jackets to the back of the block to increase cooling and circulation.. Anyone try this . Let me know if its worthwhile to try.
Thanks

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

I would like to see how that is done. Have heard of it but believe there is more to it than just putting a tube in the block.

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

That's why the coolant holes in the head gaskets get larger as they go toward the back of the engine. Dodge and Plymouth had a brass tube that went from the water pump to the back of the block that distributed coolant at each exhaust valve seat . Kind of the same concept , cooling evenly for the entire length of the block. Tim

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

Besides Chrysler Products all big block MELs have 3 thermostats and two 'of those' water divertors...Mercury Edsel Lincoln............

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

That's something i did on one of my all our race flatheads. The idea is simple get more coolant to the rear of the block all I can say is it wont hurt a bit.
Ronnieroadster

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

This is also why in the 49-53 blocks the water outlet passages in the rear of the decks are much bigger/different than the earlier engines. The cars were getting heavier and tended to build up more heat in the engine compartments and Ford was trying to cool the rear of the blocks with more coolant flow than the fronts. It makes total sense and it helped.

Re: Overheating Flathead
 

If you have the block stripped before you do anything to it for a rebuild, it is very likely you will need 180 thermostats to get it warm enough when operating.

It is not so much the rust in the water jackets that causes heating problems as it is the scale and stripping is the only thing that will get all of the scale out.