The Ford Barn

Heard · 10-21-2013, 07:17 PM

Hi Folks,
I recently purchased a 36 coupe that has a 53 flathead in it. It is setup with an electric fan. I don't know if it has any radiator thermostats in it or not. The fan currently does not have a thermostat. You just turn it on and listen to the noise. I'm going to put a thermostat on the fan but don't know what to set it at.

So my question is, what temperature range does a '53 flathead normally operate in?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Heard

MuskegonFlatheadFan · 10-21-2013, 07:31 PM

I have 180's in mine, a good gage, and just a switch for the electric fan. Its only needed when stuck in traffic on hot days. I do have the crank mounted engine fan too.

Talkwrench · 10-21-2013, 07:32 PM

Can of worms...
My little 37 block I run 180 degree thermostats, and the thermostat for the fan I have kick in by 190. I have a modern CT cored radiator so this is not a problem.

Good idea to run a thermostat for the fan.

L78CHEVELLE · 10-22-2013, 07:22 AM

Here is what I have found with my 1940 original engine cars. The temperature gauge is C for cold then it has a mark for normal low and a range to normal high. When the gauge reaches the normal low the water is 160. In the middle of the normal range the water is 175 and at the high normal mark the water is 190. If the gauge hits the H high mark the water is 210. I do have some original thermostats that range from 157 to 180. This may indicate what Ford recommended for the temperature range for the flathead engines in '40.

Heard · 10-22-2013, 07:46 AM

Thanks a lot guys! I think this gives me enough info to proceed. The original temperature gauge in the car works and with this info, I think I can come up with a good solution.

fortyfords · 10-22-2013, 04:36 PM

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The original handbook said that if the engine isn't boiling over then its o.k., but I don't know what my forty really had for thermostats. I've gone to Goodguys in Des Moines when it was over 100 degrees but the engine never boiled over even though the temp gauge was at the H mark. I kept going and never had a problem. good luck

ThomasN · 10-22-2013, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talkwrench

Can of worms...
My little 37 block I run 180 degree thermostats, and the thermostat for the fan I have kick in by 190. I have a modern CT cored radiator so this is not a problem.

Good idea to run a thermostat for the fan.

Where are you guys buying the Tstats from

Talkwrench · 10-22-2013, 11:16 PM

Ohh Again can of worms.. We have had a good thread on this not long ago, Have a search. I cant help as mine came from a Commodore [Aussie car] .

mike42 · 10-23-2013, 01:41 AM

I was wondering about the temp in my '40, so I went out and bought a mechanical temp gauge. I have 160 stats. Took it out for a spin and it heated up to where the needle was on the "N" position. It stuck the gauge into rad opening and it went direct to 160 degrees. I was stuck in traffic one day and the needle went past the N mark so I pulled over and inserted the gauge and it was around 177 degrees. At least now I know where I'm at with the dash gauge.

ThomasN · 10-23-2013, 02:07 AM

What I am doing is to use a mechanical gauge on one side and leave the stock electrical on the other. I do want to use a Tstat on my electrical fan too, and I am not sure where to get one.

mike42 · 10-23-2013, 04:42 AM

Thomas.....I'm sure someone here will advise you on that. For me I just wanted to know the exact temp in correlation to the dash gauge.

Heard · 10-23-2013, 08:05 AM

Here is just one of many....

http://www.etrailer.com/radiator-fan...le/D16769.html

This particular one looks like the 'on' temp is adjustable, but the 'off' temp is fixed at 10 degrees below the on temp. Not sure if that is good or not.

I believe the usual suspects, Drake, Mac's, etc. also have variations of this. Some seem to be fixed, some are adjustable. Even Auto Zone has these things.

Heard

36fordguy · 10-23-2013, 12:04 PM

Speedway has a temperature sensor that operates in conjunction with a standard temperature sender and you can set the fan to turn on at any temperature. I have one and have my fan turn on at 160. 36fordguy

Ol' Ron · 10-23-2013, 01:34 PM

In JWL's book, he found the engine preformed better when the intake manifolw was heat soaked, thus atomized the fuel charge better. I use 180 stats.

Joe/Ct · 10-23-2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuskegonFlatheadFan

I have 180's in mine, a good gage, and just a switch for the electric fan. Its only needed when stuck in traffic on hot days. I do have the crank mounted engine fan too.

We have the same configuration on our '39...

Heard · 10-23-2013, 02:37 PM

As a side note to this for my clarification...and please excuse my ignorance....

Is the direction of flow from the engine into the top of the radiator, out the bottom and back through the pumps and into the engine? Or the other way around?

Also, I think I read somewhere that the thermostats, if any, will be located in the hose castings on the heads (at least for a '53 flathead). Is that correct?

Thanks!

Lawson Cox · 10-23-2013, 02:43 PM

Head: I say you are correct on both direction of flow and thermostat location.

Ross F-1 · 10-23-2013, 02:59 PM

One of the better thermostats is at NAPA, I saved this discussion from a previous (very long) thread:

"Stant 14157, aka NAPA THM 111, aka Murray 4157, aka O'Reilly 2962 that has 25% more flow than the usual replacements. It's actually a modern thermostat for a 1990 Subaru Justy

O'Reilly 2962 that was in a Murray # 4157 box but it's the same as the NAPA # THM 111 and the Stant # 14157."

I run the NAPA thermostat with 160 deg. rating. I have no problem with either heating or cooling year round, engines in trucks work a little harder.

G.M. · 10-23-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heard

As a side note to this for my clarification...and please excuse my ignorance....

Is the direction of flow from the engine into the top of the radiator, out the bottom and back through the pumps and into the engine? Or the other way around?

Also, I think I read somewhere that the thermostats, if any, will be located in the hose castings on the heads (at least for a '53 flathead). Is that correct?

Thanks!

The best stats for your engine are Robertshaw 330-180. Robertshaw stats division has been sold several times and now made out of the country plus material and quality has fallen. Robert Shewman 1-610-933-6637 or [email protected] purchased some of the original ones made by Robertshaw these are all heavy brass and copper and have large flow openings that don't restrict the flow of coolant. The stock ones fit 49 to 53 and he modifies them for the 32 to 48 years to fit in the hoses. G.M.

10-21-2013, 07:17 PM	#1
Heard Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 587	Flathead operating temps Hi Folks, I recently purchased a 36 coupe that has a 53 flathead in it. It is setup with an electric fan. I don't know if it has any radiator thermostats in it or not. The fan currently does not have a thermostat. You just turn it on and listen to the noise. I'm going to put a thermostat on the fan but don't know what to set it at. So my question is, what temperature range does a '53 flathead normally operate in? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks! Heard

10-21-2013, 07:31 PM	#2
MuskegonFlatheadFan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Muskegon, MI Posts: 252	Re: Flathead operating temps I have 180's in mine, a good gage, and just a switch for the electric fan. Its only needed when stuck in traffic on hot days. I do have the crank mounted engine fan too.

10-21-2013, 07:32 PM	#3
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: Flathead operating temps Can of worms... My little 37 block I run 180 degree thermostats, and the thermostat for the fan I have kick in by 190. I have a modern CT cored radiator so this is not a problem. Good idea to run a thermostat for the fan. __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

10-22-2013, 07:22 AM	#4
L78CHEVELLE Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London Kentucky Posts: 356	Re: Flathead operating temps Here is what I have found with my 1940 original engine cars. The temperature gauge is C for cold then it has a mark for normal low and a range to normal high. When the gauge reaches the normal low the water is 160. In the middle of the normal range the water is 175 and at the high normal mark the water is 190. If the gauge hits the H high mark the water is 210. I do have some original thermostats that range from 157 to 180. This may indicate what Ford recommended for the temperature range for the flathead engines in '40.

10-22-2013, 07:46 AM	#5
Heard Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 587	Re: Flathead operating temps Thanks a lot guys! I think this gives me enough info to proceed. The original temperature gauge in the car works and with this info, I think I can come up with a good solution. __________________ Do I look like I have a plan B?

10-22-2013, 04:36 PM	#6
fortyfords Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: faucett, mo Posts: 419	Re: Flathead operating temps Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The original handbook said that if the engine isn't boiling over then its o.k., but I don't know what my forty really had for thermostats. I've gone to Goodguys in Des Moines when it was over 100 degrees but the engine never boiled over even though the temp gauge was at the H mark. I kept going and never had a problem. good luck

10-22-2013, 11:16 PM	#8
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: Flathead operating temps Ohh Again can of worms.. We have had a good thread on this not long ago, Have a search. I cant help as mine came from a Commodore [Aussie car] . __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

10-23-2013, 01:41 AM	#9
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,605	Re: Flathead operating temps I was wondering about the temp in my '40, so I went out and bought a mechanical temp gauge. I have 160 stats. Took it out for a spin and it heated up to where the needle was on the "N" position. It stuck the gauge into rad opening and it went direct to 160 degrees. I was stuck in traffic one day and the needle went past the N mark so I pulled over and inserted the gauge and it was around 177 degrees. At least now I know where I'm at with the dash gauge.

10-23-2013, 02:07 AM	#10
ThomasN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Spokane Wa. Posts: 271	Re: Flathead operating temps What I am doing is to use a mechanical gauge on one side and leave the stock electrical on the other. I do want to use a Tstat on my electrical fan too, and I am not sure where to get one.

10-23-2013, 04:42 AM	#11
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,605	Re: Flathead operating temps Thomas.....I'm sure someone here will advise you on that. For me I just wanted to know the exact temp in correlation to the dash gauge.

10-23-2013, 08:05 AM	#12
Heard Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 587	Re: Flathead operating temps Here is just one of many.... http://www.etrailer.com/radiator-fan...le/D16769.html This particular one looks like the 'on' temp is adjustable, but the 'off' temp is fixed at 10 degrees below the on temp. Not sure if that is good or not. I believe the usual suspects, Drake, Mac's, etc. also have variations of this. Some seem to be fixed, some are adjustable. Even Auto Zone has these things. Heard __________________ Do I look like I have a plan B?

10-23-2013, 12:04 PM	#13
36fordguy Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 73	Re: Flathead operating temps Speedway has a temperature sensor that operates in conjunction with a standard temperature sender and you can set the fan to turn on at any temperature. I have one and have my fan turn on at 160. 36fordguy

10-23-2013, 01:34 PM	#14
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Flathead operating temps In JWL's book, he found the engine preformed better when the intake manifolw was heat soaked, thus atomized the fuel charge better. I use 180 stats.

10-23-2013, 02:37 PM	#16
Heard Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 587	Re: Flathead operating temps As a side note to this for my clarification...and please excuse my ignorance.... Is the direction of flow from the engine into the top of the radiator, out the bottom and back through the pumps and into the engine? Or the other way around? Also, I think I read somewhere that the thermostats, if any, will be located in the hose castings on the heads (at least for a '53 flathead). Is that correct? Thanks! __________________ Do I look like I have a plan B?

10-23-2013, 02:43 PM	#17
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Flathead operating temps Head: I say you are correct on both direction of flow and thermostat location. __________________ 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".

10-23-2013, 02:59 PM	#18
Ross F-1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NM Posts: 2,438	Re: Flathead operating temps One of the better thermostats is at NAPA, I saved this discussion from a previous (very long) thread: "Stant 14157, aka NAPA THM 111, aka Murray 4157, aka O'Reilly 2962 that has 25% more flow than the usual replacements. It's actually a modern thermostat for a 1990 Subaru Justy O'Reilly 2962 that was in a Murray # 4157 box but it's the same as the NAPA # THM 111 and the Stant # 14157." I run the NAPA thermostat with 160 deg. rating. I have no problem with either heating or cooling year round, engines in trucks work a little harder. __________________ '52 F-1, EAB flathead