Engine Foxbody coolant getting dirty

[Jakub2537]

My foxbody mustang has been sitting for a long time and about 3 years ago I got it redone meaning re sealed the entire motor, since then the car has been over heating because the coolant kept getting dirty and I made sure it’s not oil it’s just mud or dirt, I’ve replaced the thermostat from a 160 to a 180 which made things worse so I’ll go back to the 160 and I flushed the rad and block and it’s still brown from dirt, my mechanic said it’s the metal heater core tube since I already by-passed it, what is the issue.

The photo is what keeps coming out of the rad. And it brand new with less than 500 km.

 

[Noobz347]

So, disconnect the heat line hoses and see what's hiding inside.

If they look worn, be prepared to replace them.

The supply hose should have a metal restrictor inside of it. Check it and see if it has completely deteriorated.


Had the thing been sitting with just water in it all that time or was it a proper mix of water and coolant?

 

[KRUISR]

What is the debris? dirt, stones, rubber, that stop leak stuff some people like to use?

You say your car overheats with a 180 t-stat. Describe the rest of the cooling system - Rad (2 core, 3 core, OEM style or aftermarket aluminum)?, Fan (clutch fan or electric)? A/C or not? Anything bypassed or re-routed?

 

[85GTStangGuy]

That larger piece of debris in the middle left of the pic appears to have a circular shape to it.... doesn't look like it's "just mud or dirt".... more like it's an edge of a gasket opening or an o-ring or something like that.

When the engine was resealed, was the water pump replaced? or re-gasketed?

When reading your post, this post in another thread came to mind...

Progress Thread Post in thread '1993 LX Hatch Progress'

Oct 4, 2024

So check this out...
As I have mentioned earlier, my engine is a 1994, which means the timing cover was replaced to accommodate the older fox water pump. Well, during coolant filling, it start pissing a stream out of the bottom of the pump. Took the pump off and discovered this:

Gasket doesn't line up correctly. Upon further research, this timing cover is a reverse rotation and uses a different gasket to mate with the plate on the pump. I found the correct gasket...should be here in a few days. The part that matters is the direction of pump flow matching with belt...

• Mac131

• 

 

[Mac131]

To the OP...have you figured this out yet?