My left head gets hotter faster than the right...timing? Points?

[jkeesey]

I would be leaning toward the right thermostat slightly open or blockages in the left cooling jackets. From the ones I've worked on blockages sounds about right.

[G.M.]

It could be water flow due to pump or restriction. Take the thermostats out when doing cooling problems and when the problems are solved put the CORRECT stats in,
modern stats restrict the water flow in these engines. It's not true that one side runs hotter than the other. I have been involved with many cooling problems on old Fords and if you fill the radiator to the filler neck, have a pressure cap or valve so water don't flow out the over flow tube a fairly clean radiator and block I find both sides run within 2 or 3 degrees of each other at all times. To cool these engines properly it takes the full 22 quarts, a good flow of coolant through both side of the engine and a good flow of air through the radiator. How do you know how much water each pump is producing in a given period of time?? Pumps are put together with no internal clearance specs and not even tested, this is evident when the mounting holes are off so you couldn't even bolt the pump on a test machine. I know Skip tests every pump on a water pump test machine for at least 5 minutes. EVERY 39 to 53 delivers 110 gallons in 5 minutes compared to 65 to 75 gallons for stock or so call better aftermarket pumps. 32 to 36 are 90 for Skips and 55 for stock pumps. How can this happen?? In the later pumps he uses a turbine impeller and in EVERY pump clearances are held within several thousandth and in some places less than 1/2 thousandth clearance. If the impeller clearance gets a little wide the gallons per minute drop. He records every pumps test results and if it's low he tears it apart but this is rare. I know of some after market pumps he rebuild and tested REAL low. I was there on the first one which he showed me. It turned out there was loose cast iron that was cast into the water passage near the center recessed bolt. We drilled a hole in the bottom of the water inlet at the bottom and went up in the cavity with a long 1/4" carbide cutter and cleaned it out. Welded the hole and all was OK. G.M.

[johnh7]

I agree with Mike51Merc. If you have a water type heater, the take off for your heater is likely before the thermostat and will allow coolant through from the moment the engine is started. It will take the passenger side longer to heat up because of that. On my 38 pickup I have the coolant for the heater come off just below the thermostat as there is simply no other place for it on a 59 A-B engine. Of course if you don't have a water heater then it's a moot point.

[scooder]

Originally Posted by johnh7

I agree with Mike51Merc. If you have a water type heater, the take off for your heater is likely before the thermostat and will allow coolant through from the moment the engine is started. It will take the passenger side longer to heat up because of that. On my 38 pickup I have the coolant for the heater come off just below the thermostat as there is simply no other place for it on a 59 A-B engine. Of course if you don't have a water heater then it's a moot point.

That's how a heater is supposed to be fitted. If it were plumbed after the 'stat, the heater wouldn't get warm until after the 'stat opened. In the real cold you'd freeze your pods off, as the stats may never open fully.
Is this temperature difference a problem? On a run does the temperature equalise? does it spit out water and steam away? Is it possible that it's worry about nothing?
Martin.

[RKS.PA]

You've not said it's overheating, so do you really care if one bank heats up faster than the other???

Dick.

[oldrelics]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by RKS.PA

You've not said it's overheating, so do you really care if one bank heats up faster than the other???

Dick.

Just wondering why....

[oldrelics]

Resolved: So it turns out that the right 'incorrect' thermostat was tilted sideways in the hose allowing coolant to circulate, thus making the left appear to be warming up faster.

[Bassman/NZ]

I like a happy ending......