The Ford Barn

Gold Digger · 06-29-2016, 02:19 PM

Is it practical to change a regular quail radiator cap to a thermo-quail type by installing a thermometer in it? I just bought another "A" and it just has the quail locking cap on it.

Capt Quahog · 06-29-2016, 03:33 PM

Somebody on this board probably knows how to do a retro install or some such thing. If you have to have one of those odd birds, then it might be better to purchase a good quality repro.

Have a Thermo-Quail cap knocking around the garage someplace that came with our last year Model A Ford purchase. Found it impossible to see the liquid in the thermometer tube from the driver's seat. The stuff looks to be GRAY in color and not RED as expected. Operate that car now with an original working nice RED juice Boyce Moto-Meter. Found since long ago that for temperature reading, the old Moto-Meters worked out best

pooch · 06-29-2016, 05:38 PM

There are non thermo repo quails as well.

The thermo just neesd a hole drilled in cap and it screws in .

Dunno if your regular quail is an original or repo , and/or if it has a hole in its arse for the top of the thermo to fit.

The repos have a bit of silicone at the top in the bird's arse because the stainless tube and glass is very fragile.

29spcoupe · 06-29-2016, 06:03 PM

Found it impossible to see the liquid in the thermometer tube from the driver's seat. The stuff looks to be GRAY in color and not RED as expected. Operate that car now with an original working nice RED juice Boyce Moto-Meter. Found since long ago that for temperature reading, the old Moto-Meters worked out best[/QUOTE]

Changed my thermo quail for the same reason.

bikejunk · 06-29-2016, 06:47 PM

Agree with the above-- a easy to find old Boyce is a real snap to read from the drivers seat

updraught · 06-29-2016, 07:34 PM

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Be sure to post some pictures of drilling the hole up the quail.

heneste · 06-30-2016, 10:58 AM

I also have a thermo quail and find it hard to see the level of the indicator. You could go with the Boyce or if you're really worried, there's always the temp gauge install that can be done on the upper rad hose.

TerryH · 06-30-2016, 11:56 PM

I have a thermo quail from about 10 years ago, and it took awhile to get it aligned just right, but I can see the red line just fine, and even though it is not calibrated or in degrees, I know what level is getting hot.....works fine for me and I like the way it looks.

ccb360 · 07-01-2016, 05:32 AM

I also had to "adjust" my new repo thermo quail element to see the indication. Loosened the thermal element nut and rotated it about 15 degrees toward driver's view. Works fine now and easily seen. Good reference...

Steve Plucker · 07-01-2016, 07:12 AM

If it is an original quail...don't even think about drilling a hole in it!

Pluck

Gold Digger · 07-01-2016, 07:20 AM

It's a repo on a resent purchase. I have a repo on another car with a thermometer in it and works real well and can see it ok. Just wondering if anyone had installed the thermometer in one in a quail with out one.

06-29-2016, 02:19 PM	#1
Gold Digger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arkansas & Alaska Posts: 645	Thermo-quail Is it practical to change a regular quail radiator cap to a thermo-quail type by installing a thermometer in it? I just bought another "A" and it just has the quail locking cap on it.

06-29-2016, 03:33 PM	#2
Capt Quahog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barren windswept mountain somewhere in bleak Northeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 294	Re: Thermo-quail Somebody on this board probably knows how to do a retro install or some such thing. If you have to have one of those odd birds, then it might be better to purchase a good quality repro. Have a Thermo-Quail cap knocking around the garage someplace that came with our last year Model A Ford purchase. Found it impossible to see the liquid in the thermometer tube from the driver's seat. The stuff looks to be GRAY in color and not RED as expected. Operate that car now with an original working nice RED juice Boyce Moto-Meter. Found since long ago that for temperature reading, the old Moto-Meters worked out best

06-29-2016, 05:38 PM	#3
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Thermo-quail There are non thermo repo quails as well. The thermo just neesd a hole drilled in cap and it screws in . Dunno if your regular quail is an original or repo , and/or if it has a hole in its arse for the top of the thermo to fit. The repos have a bit of silicone at the top in the bird's arse because the stainless tube and glass is very fragile.

06-29-2016, 06:03 PM	#4
29spcoupe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Rhinebeck, NY Posts: 762	Re: Thermo-quail Found it impossible to see the liquid in the thermometer tube from the driver's seat. The stuff looks to be GRAY in color and not RED as expected. Operate that car now with an original working nice RED juice Boyce Moto-Meter. Found since long ago that for temperature reading, the old Moto-Meters worked out best[/QUOTE] Changed my thermo quail for the same reason.

06-29-2016, 06:47 PM	#5
bikejunk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: beautiful down town Passaic NJ Posts: 293	Re: Thermo-quail Agree with the above-- a easy to find old Boyce is a real snap to read from the drivers seat

06-29-2016, 07:34 PM	#6
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,972	Re: Thermo-quail Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Be sure to post some pictures of drilling the hole up the quail.

06-30-2016, 10:58 AM	#7
heneste Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa,Ontario, Canada Posts: 271	Re: Thermo-quail I also have a thermo quail and find it hard to see the level of the indicator. You could go with the Boyce or if you're really worried, there's always the temp gauge install that can be done on the upper rad hose.

06-30-2016, 11:56 PM	#8
TerryH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fountain Valley, Calif. Posts: 937	Re: Thermo-quail I have a thermo quail from about 10 years ago, and it took awhile to get it aligned just right, but I can see the red line just fine, and even though it is not calibrated or in degrees, I know what level is getting hot.....works fine for me and I like the way it looks. Last edited by TerryH; 07-01-2016 at 09:51 AM.

07-01-2016, 05:32 AM	#9
ccb360 Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Portsmouth, VA Posts: 66	Re: Thermo-quail I also had to "adjust" my new repo thermo quail element to see the indication. Loosened the thermal element nut and rotated it about 15 degrees toward driver's view. Works fine now and easily seen. Good reference...

07-01-2016, 07:12 AM	#10
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Thermo-quail If it is an original quail...don't even think about drilling a hole in it! Pluck

07-01-2016, 07:20 AM	#11
Gold Digger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arkansas & Alaska Posts: 645	Re: Thermo-quail It's a repo on a resent purchase. I have a repo on another car with a thermometer in it and works real well and can see it ok. Just wondering if anyone had installed the thermometer in one in a quail with out one.