I recently built a 302 engine and have installed it and it works very well - so far so good - it's a 72 block.
However I have one big problem - every time I run the car it spews coolant out of the radiator overflow. It does not overheat according to the gauge and the temp does everything you would expect - it rises and falls as expected. The temp gauge is however overall higher than the previous engine but is always around the half way mark whereas the previous engine was around the quarter mark. I did put this down to cleaning the sender unit and it being a new engine. the top hose is always hotter then the bottom hose.
When putting the engine together I did buy a new water pump with a RH outlet as from the drivers seat to match the radiator connections. This pump appeared to have the same number of impellors with the same shape impellors as the pump that came with the engine.
I have increased the rad cap to 15lbs from 13lbs and I have also retested the thermostat in a boiling pan and it is ok.
We ran the engine on tickover without the cap on this morning and my mate who has good experience with engines reckons the movement of water in the radiator was too fast - the water was moving from the top hose connection to the other side of the rad so the flow seems to be in the right direction.
I have no water leaks and the coolant was about 50/50 antifreeze but will be less now.
I have studied the internet last night and I seem to be left with these possibilities -
1, The water is being over driven and aerating. My water pulley is the same one from the old engine and the same diameter as the pulley I was given with the engine ?
2, The head gaskets are leaking severely, introducing combusted hot air into the water - I did have the heads lightly skimmed though and fitted the recommended Felpro gaskets so I hope this is not the case.
3, Finally and the one I hope it is - I have fitted a reverse flow pump, but having searched the internet I am unable to come up with an explanation of how to tell the difference between the 2 types of pump
So as you can see I am stuck and need to draw on your experience to help in anyway please as I am at my wits end.
thanks
PS - I have just looked under the car and a substantial amount of water has leaked from a rubber pipe which hangs down at the bottom of the bulk head on passenger side I believe this has something to do with the heater unit or my air con - it seems like water as opposed to coolant tho, and this has just started today and I have driven 80 miles with the air con on. I hope increasing the rad cap to 15lbs has not sprung a leak !
The carpet is not wet however the underneath of the heater/ air con unit is wet - is this pipe like a catch drain for condensed water from the air con bit hence the clear water ?.
you have just gotta love these cars to keep going !!!!
However I have one big problem - every time I run the car it spews coolant out of the radiator overflow. It does not overheat according to the gauge and the temp does everything you would expect - it rises and falls as expected. The temp gauge is however overall higher than the previous engine but is always around the half way mark whereas the previous engine was around the quarter mark. I did put this down to cleaning the sender unit and it being a new engine. the top hose is always hotter then the bottom hose.
When putting the engine together I did buy a new water pump with a RH outlet as from the drivers seat to match the radiator connections. This pump appeared to have the same number of impellors with the same shape impellors as the pump that came with the engine.
I have increased the rad cap to 15lbs from 13lbs and I have also retested the thermostat in a boiling pan and it is ok.
We ran the engine on tickover without the cap on this morning and my mate who has good experience with engines reckons the movement of water in the radiator was too fast - the water was moving from the top hose connection to the other side of the rad so the flow seems to be in the right direction.
I have no water leaks and the coolant was about 50/50 antifreeze but will be less now.
I have studied the internet last night and I seem to be left with these possibilities -
1, The water is being over driven and aerating. My water pulley is the same one from the old engine and the same diameter as the pulley I was given with the engine ?
2, The head gaskets are leaking severely, introducing combusted hot air into the water - I did have the heads lightly skimmed though and fitted the recommended Felpro gaskets so I hope this is not the case.
3, Finally and the one I hope it is - I have fitted a reverse flow pump, but having searched the internet I am unable to come up with an explanation of how to tell the difference between the 2 types of pump
So as you can see I am stuck and need to draw on your experience to help in anyway please as I am at my wits end.
thanks
PS - I have just looked under the car and a substantial amount of water has leaked from a rubber pipe which hangs down at the bottom of the bulk head on passenger side I believe this has something to do with the heater unit or my air con - it seems like water as opposed to coolant tho, and this has just started today and I have driven 80 miles with the air con on. I hope increasing the rad cap to 15lbs has not sprung a leak !
The carpet is not wet however the underneath of the heater/ air con unit is wet - is this pipe like a catch drain for condensed water from the air con bit hence the clear water ?.
you have just gotta love these cars to keep going !!!!