Hot and flustered Cleveland

[grims_pa]

Gents can you help?
I have a Pilgrim with a Ford 351C. The rad came from Pilgrim as did the twin electric fans and thermostatic switch (78 deg I believe).
after SVA in Nov i noticed a small water leak from the head gasket and the engine seemed to run warm (about 100deg) even with the cold winter air.
I have replaced the head gaskets de-coked the heads/ pistons and replaced valve stem oil seals, all looked OK inside the motor.
I have installed a new water pump and removed the thermostat.
the engine starts and runs fine but again seams to run at about 95-100 deg all the time with both cooling fans running flat out!
Is it normal for these engines to run so hot?
I have not fitted an oil cooler would this help?
I am reluctant to travel far when the engine runs so hot or am i just paranoid. The air temp is still quite cool a dread to think about what will happen when the summer comes!
Any suggestions appreciated. thanks Paul.

[Daxman]

Hi Paul,

first thing to check is that you don't have an airlock in the system, also are you sure water is passing through the rad (Not blocked).

is it easy to get the rad out, if you want i take it to northern rads in leeds for you, i know the guy there quite well, he might even test it for whilst I wait.

Just let me know.

Russ

[grims_pa]

Hi Russ,
The rad is new and with the expansion tank cap off on initial start up i can see coolant returning to the expansion tank from the rad so I cant see it being blocked.
Its doing my head in I've been wrestling with this fault for days!!!!!
Paul.

[Daxman]

Paul,

i not sure but didn't you say that when took off the old water pump off half the impleller blades were missing, could it be possible that some bits of metal have got in to you water passages with in the block restriciting water flow around the engine, they have to have gone somewhere!

Russ

[grims_pa]

Russ,
one blade had rusted away but it would have been so small I doubt it would cause a problem. I inspected all the journal as much as possible when I fitted the new pump and I could not see any obstruction.
Who's idea was it to use a Ford !!!

Paul.

[Daxman]

What did i say when i first met you
YOU SHOULD HAVE FITTED A CHEVY!

Only joking, I'm messing about with Virgin Media sets at the moment, but should be around leeds some time next week if you want a fresh set of eyes to look at.

Russ

[gareth08]

Originally Posted by grims_pa

Gents can you help?
I have a Pilgrim with a Ford 351C. The rad came from Pilgrim as did the twin electric fans and thermostatic switch (78 deg I believe).
after SVA in Nov i noticed a small water leak from the head gasket and the engine seemed to run warm (about 100deg) even with the cold winter air.
I have replaced the head gaskets de-coked the heads/ pistons and replaced valve stem oil seals, all looked OK inside the motor.
I have installed a new water pump and removed the thermostat.
the engine starts and runs fine but again seams to run at about 95-100 deg all the time with both cooling fans running flat out!
Is it normal for these engines to run so hot?
I have not fitted an oil cooler would this help?
I am reluctant to travel far when the engine runs so hot or am i just paranoid. The air temp is still quite cool a dread to think about what will happen when the summer comes!
Any suggestions appreciated. thanks Paul.

Paul,

Where is your header tank mounted

Sumos suffer VERY badly from ,

1) The Pilgrim supplied header tank is crap,
2) The position that it or any other header tank is fitted,


I had MAJOR overheating issues with mine but sorted them by re-designing the entire water system.


Works perfectly now.

[grims_pa]

Hi Gareth,
I am using the Pilgrim header tank and I've just built the cooling system as best I can to suit the engine and Rad, as there were only very brief instructions in the manual from Pilgrim.
My header tank is quite low so I will try to lift it.
have you any photo's of your engine bay showing how you overcame your cooling problems ?
Thanks
Paul.

[gareth08]

Originally Posted by grims_pa

Hi Gareth,
I am using the Pilgrim header tank and I've just built the cooling system as best I can to suit the engine and Rad, as there were only very brief instructions in the manual from Pilgrim.
My header tank is quite low so I will try to lift it.
have you any photo's of your engine bay showing how you overcame your cooling problems ?
Thanks
Paul.

Paul,

I'll have a dig around to see what up to date pics I have.

Failing that I'll take a couple over the next few days and post them up for you.Can't do it at the minute as I'm re-painting it and the bay is covered up.

[wilf]

Taking the 'stat out of a Cleveland makes overheating worse, not better.

Without a stat you effectively "short circuit" the cooling system. Also, there is meant to be a plate with a calibrated orifice (to stop the above effect) in the hole directly under the stat. Is yours there? Without it, even with the stat wide open, little coolant will flow through the rad.

Clevelands are different.