The Ford Barn

dad's deuce roadster · 09-22-2022, 09:04 PM

We continue making progress on the roadster. Does anyone know of an adjustable temperature switch that can go into the head? Lacking that, what would the proper temperature be for a switch that will kick in the electric fan? I've heard 200 F, but seems a tad high.

Thanks,

40cpe · 09-22-2022, 09:43 PM

I haven't seen an adjustable switch to screw into the head. I do have a 195 degree switch in the head of my 8BA engine. It controls a Cooling Component fan that begins to bring the temp down quite quickly to the 180 degree thermostats.

deuce lover · 09-23-2022, 12:32 AM

There is one that has a probe that replaces the petcock in the bottom of the radiator.Parr Automotive used to sell them.

Here is a link:
https://www.parrautomotive.com/index...od/prd8365.htm

dad's deuce roadster · 09-23-2022, 10:20 AM

Thanks, for the replies thus far. I'll check them.

5851a · 09-23-2022, 12:15 PM

If you have a pick and pull, any Ford Escort from the 80's has a fan switch at the end of the Tstat housing. 1 wire grounding type switch. Turned fan on around 200. Other electric fan Fords had them also but can't remember location of them all. Mid to late 80's Mustangs with 4-cylinder electric fan had sensor in the heater supply hose.

Gene1949 · 09-23-2022, 02:48 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

There is no point in running the fan if the radiator bottom temp is under 180 degrees.
Most people put the temp switch in the bottom tank

dad's deuce roadster · 09-30-2022, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene1949

There is no point in running the fan if the radiator bottom temp is under 180 degrees.
Most people put the temp switch in the bottom tank

Good info, thanks

36fordguy · 09-30-2022, 07:06 PM

got one from speedway put iton my 36 PU works great set to any temp - control fan on/off 36fordguy

dad's deuce roadster · 10-08-2022, 07:29 PM

Just a note, opted to go with American Volt single wire switches, planning to use in one of the heads. Grabbed 2, one at kicks in at 190, the other at 200. both cut out 15 deg lower than the the on temp. We'll try the 190 first and see where the water temp actually is.

dad's deuce roadster · 11-07-2022, 09:13 PM

An update. Ran with the 190 F temperature switch. Idling to full warm up fan kicked in right at 190 on the temp gage on head port, fan came on, temp dropped in a couple minutes and fan shut down. Working well.

Took car out for a short run on a colder day. Ran about 4 miles. Engine never topped 140.

flatford8 · 11-08-2022, 07:38 AM

Unless I missed where you mentioned this, are you not running thermostats? Your engine would be happier at 185*- 190*.....the switches you found seem to be the answer....Mark

JayChicago · 11-08-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad's deuce roadster

Engine never topped 140.

Agree with previous post by flatford8. I think running that cool is not good for your engine. I would install 180 thermostats, then tweak the fan switch.

Lawson Cox · 11-08-2022, 07:24 PM

This wording of this posting reminded me of my childhood days, you know, way back when ass whoopins were in vogue.

The size of the switch varied or was adjusted according to just how "hot" Daddy was over what I had just done. Get the picture?

It seems that the "time out" generation is not faring quite as well as the ass whoopin generation.

dad's deuce roadster · 11-08-2022, 08:00 PM

Thanks all. I did feel the temp staying cool was not good for the engine for all the reasons posted. And just to be save, I'll ask - if I understand correctly, the thermostats, e.g. the $10 ones at speedway, can just sit on the top of the head ports and the hoses will keep them in place. Is that right

flatford8 · 11-09-2022, 04:55 AM

Some people use another piece of hose inside both rad hoses to hold the t-stat in place. Some use PVC or small wires from the t-stat and pinch them between the hose and the neck on the head. A quick search should show multiple ways of keeping it in place.......Mark

dad's deuce roadster · 01-13-2023, 09:05 AM

Just a wrap note on this thread. We installed 180 t'stats. We went to using some stainless tubing between the hose off the heads and into radiator. We just lest the t'stats bump up to the tubing. We did drill a 1/8" hole in each t'stat to allow some flow before than open and to give air an escape route.

The setup is working well. The t'stats open and a few minutes later the fan with it's 190 F temp switch will kick in. Amazing to me is that the original temp gage readings are spot on with the opening of t'stats and the fan kicking in.

aussie merc · 01-14-2023, 03:05 AM

I gather you have a 59A [center of head outlet] yes the original hoses had a lip moulded into them to keep the stats in place unfortunately replacement hoses dont have this so the fun begins. I personally went to stainless pipes and jam them down on the stats and clamp in place . Others use wire or modify the stats to keep them in place there are lots of posts on here about this so its up to you how you do this.

09-22-2022, 09:04 PM	#1
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Adjustable temperature switch We continue making progress on the roadster. Does anyone know of an adjustable temperature switch that can go into the head? Lacking that, what would the proper temperature be for a switch that will kick in the electric fan? I've heard 200 F, but seems a tad high. Thanks,

09-22-2022, 09:43 PM	#2
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Adjustable temperature switch I haven't seen an adjustable switch to screw into the head. I do have a 195 degree switch in the head of my 8BA engine. It controls a Cooling Component fan that begins to bring the temp down quite quickly to the 180 degree thermostats.

09-23-2022, 12:32 AM	#3
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,313	Re: Adjustable temperature switch There is one that has a probe that replaces the petcock in the bottom of the radiator.Parr Automotive used to sell them. Here is a link: https://www.parrautomotive.com/index...od/prd8365.htm Last edited by deuce lover; 09-23-2022 at 12:21 PM.

09-23-2022, 10:20 AM	#4
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Thanks, for the replies thus far. I'll check them.

09-23-2022, 12:15 PM	#5
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,665	Re: Adjustable temperature switch If you have a pick and pull, any Ford Escort from the 80's has a fan switch at the end of the Tstat housing. 1 wire grounding type switch. Turned fan on around 200. Other electric fan Fords had them also but can't remember location of them all. Mid to late 80's Mustangs with 4-cylinder electric fan had sensor in the heater supply hose.

09-23-2022, 02:48 PM	#6
Gene1949 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Pahrump, NV Posts: 375	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There is no point in running the fan if the radiator bottom temp is under 180 degrees. Most people put the temp switch in the bottom tank

09-30-2022, 07:06 PM	#8
36fordguy Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 73	Re: Adjustable temperature switch got one from speedway put iton my 36 PU works great set to any temp - control fan on/off 36fordguy

10-08-2022, 07:29 PM	#9
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Just a note, opted to go with American Volt single wire switches, planning to use in one of the heads. Grabbed 2, one at kicks in at 190, the other at 200. both cut out 15 deg lower than the the on temp. We'll try the 190 first and see where the water temp actually is.

11-07-2022, 09:13 PM	#10
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Re: Adjustable temperature switch An update. Ran with the 190 F temperature switch. Idling to full warm up fan kicked in right at 190 on the temp gage on head port, fan came on, temp dropped in a couple minutes and fan shut down. Working well. Took car out for a short run on a colder day. Ran about 4 miles. Engine never topped 140.

11-08-2022, 07:38 AM	#11
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,634	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Unless I missed where you mentioned this, are you not running thermostats? Your engine would be happier at 185- 190.....the switches you found seem to be the answer....Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

11-08-2022, 07:24 PM	#13
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Adjustable temperature switch This wording of this posting reminded me of my childhood days, you know, way back when ass whoopins were in vogue. The size of the switch varied or was adjusted according to just how "hot" Daddy was over what I had just done. Get the picture? It seems that the "time out" generation is not faring quite as well as the ass whoopin generation. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

11-08-2022, 08:00 PM	#14
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Thanks all. I did feel the temp staying cool was not good for the engine for all the reasons posted. And just to be save, I'll ask - if I understand correctly, the thermostats, e.g. the $10 ones at speedway, can just sit on the top of the head ports and the hoses will keep them in place. Is that right

11-09-2022, 04:55 AM	#15
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,634	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Some people use another piece of hose inside both rad hoses to hold the t-stat in place. Some use PVC or small wires from the t-stat and pinch them between the hose and the neck on the head. A quick search should show multiple ways of keeping it in place.......Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

01-13-2023, 09:05 AM	#16
dad's deuce roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: PA Posts: 106	Re: Adjustable temperature switch Just a wrap note on this thread. We installed 180 t'stats. We went to using some stainless tubing between the hose off the heads and into radiator. We just lest the t'stats bump up to the tubing. We did drill a 1/8" hole in each t'stat to allow some flow before than open and to give air an escape route. The setup is working well. The t'stats open and a few minutes later the fan with it's 190 F temp switch will kick in. Amazing to me is that the original temp gage readings are spot on with the opening of t'stats and the fan kicking in.

01-14-2023, 03:05 AM	#17
aussie merc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: sydney australia Posts: 1,036	Re: Adjustable temperature switch I gather you have a 59A [center of head outlet] yes the original hoses had a lip moulded into them to keep the stats in place unfortunately replacement hoses dont have this so the fun begins. I personally went to stainless pipes and jam them down on the stats and clamp in place . Others use wire or modify the stats to keep them in place there are lots of posts on here about this so its up to you how you do this.