The Ford Barn

Shadetree · 06-03-2011, 08:11 AM

Most flathead V-8 Ford engines seem to have a common problem with overheating and we blame the design. Yet some Fordbarner's have no overheating issues. There has to be a reason that some do, some don't. In the 50's I owned several flathead Fords with no heating problems whatsoever. We didn't have high volume pumps, Purple Ice, thermostats or pressure caps. Something has happened over the years to create this problem. We can't put the blame totally on age. I have owned other antique cars that never once overheated under any conditions, parades, idling for long periods or whatever, they ran cool. If our Fords were this touchy when new, they wouldn’t have sold so many of them. There has to be a common denominator, what is it?

Shadetree

06-03-2011, 08:11 AM	#1
Shadetree Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cottageville, WV Posts: 1,535	Why Do They Overheat? Most flathead V-8 Ford engines seem to have a common problem with overheating and we blame the design. Yet some Fordbarner's have no overheating issues. There has to be a reason that some do, some don't. In the 50's I owned several flathead Fords with no heating problems whatsoever. We didn't have high volume pumps, Purple Ice, thermostats or pressure caps. Something has happened over the years to create this problem. We can't put the blame totally on age. I have owned other antique cars that never once overheated under any conditions, parades, idling for long periods or whatever, they ran cool. If our Fords were this touchy when new, they wouldn’t have sold so many of them. There has to be a common denominator, what is it? Shadetree __________________ Son, you will never blow an engine up in high gear.