• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

overheating problems!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter coreyhayman
  • Start date Start date May 1, 2005
C

coreyhayman

New Member
Dec 7, 2004
55
0
0
Bolton,Ontario
May 1, 2005
#1
  • May 1, 2005
  • #1
motors a carbed and built 306, running an electric fan set up, problem is car is overheating and the rad is getting very hot, the tub that connects from the thermostat housin to the rad is also getting very hot and flexing in and out.....could this just be a stuck thermostat?.....also my car gets up to temp so quickly that i was thinking of just running it thermostatless, ne problems with doing this?, and does it sound like its the thermostat sticking?
 
T

TheUser

Active Member
Jul 25, 2003
1,859
1
36
Springfield, MO
May 1, 2005
#2
  • May 1, 2005
  • #2
pull the rad. cap, start car up and let it get up to temp to where the thermostat should open (depends on which thermostat you have, but stock is 195*). The coolant runs left to right in the radiator, so you should see it seeping out of the fins inside radiator by looking through the cap. If you do not see this then your thermostat might be stuck.

I don't know of a problem with not running a thermostat on a carbed car, just the motor might not get warmed up properly. There is a reason it's overheating, so I'd figure out what it is and fix it rather than simply eliminating the thermostat.

Are you sure the guage is correct? A lot of times, the guage isn't exactly correct. You can test your coolant temp with a turkey thermometer or a really cool infrared thermometer will measure the temp. of anything.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
May 1, 2005
#3
  • May 1, 2005
  • #3
great info James!

i would at least run a restrictor plate in lieu of a stat (even with a carb). comes down to velocity through the radiator.

the upper hose concerns me. it sounds like it is collapsing. better hoses will have a spring inside them to prevent this. i would address that at a min. and a cooler stat is not going to help with the issues you describe. i would address the hose and get a real gauge (even if just a 10 dollar parts store version. given your issues, i would go with a mechanical gauge, but anything is better than what you got).

good luck.
 
C

coreyhayman

New Member
Dec 7, 2004
55
0
0
Bolton,Ontario
May 1, 2005
#4
  • May 1, 2005
  • #4
ya the hose is collapsing, i remember i had tis problem last summer and i ended up removing the rad and cleaning it out good and replacing the thermostat...then one day it overheated on me and i hit the thermostat housing with a hammer and it all of a sudden cooled right down, so im led to believe the thermostat is sticking, im gonna get a autometer mechanical temp guage and run the car without the thermo to see what kinda temps im getting.
 

vristang

15 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
4,933
101
124
Seattle
May 1, 2005
#5
  • May 1, 2005
  • #5
coreyhayman said:
ya the hose is collapsing, i remember i had tis problem last summer and i ended up removing the rad and cleaning it out good and replacing the thermostat...then one day it overheated on me and i hit the thermostat housing with a hammer and it all of a sudden cooled right down, so im led to believe the thermostat is sticking, im gonna get a autometer mechanical temp guage and run the car without the thermo to see what kinda temps im getting.
Click to expand...
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:
 
8

86bluecobra

Advanced Member
Dec 20, 2004
4,265
12
69
B.C. Canada
May 1, 2005
#6
  • May 1, 2005
  • #6
i have been told that car will run hotter if you remove the thermostat because there is no restriction on the flow of the coolant and it will pass threw the rad to quick making the rad inefficient at cooling. by the way after you replace the upper rad hose try adding some water wetter to your cooling system. the stuff really works to help a engine run cooler.
 
D

darkarrow

New Member
May 1, 2005
31
0
0
May 2, 2005
#7
  • May 2, 2005
  • #7
i had a similar problem but without radiator hose collasping but the opposite. i replaced the waterpump, then the thermostat went bad and the pressure built up in the hose, to the thermostat, almost made the hose explode. but my problem was the thermostat. i replaced my stock thermostat temp with a 165 degree and my car has never overheated since, but it used to be a constant problem for me even in the winter time. your hose shouldnt collaspe either because there should be a spring internally in the hose to avoid this problem, but i have a stock 93 5.0.
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
May 2, 2005
#8
  • May 2, 2005
  • #8
Your car will run better and last longer with t a proper t'stat. PUt a new 180F in it - spring side towards the engine and see what you've got. Be sure you've burped all the air out of it. And a real gauge would be nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine 1986 GT Overheating issues
  • 86 5O GT
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
18
Views
907
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 29, 2026
86 5O GT
Engine Themostat
  • Mindseye007
  • Jan 30, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 1, 2026
86HO5.0
8
M
Resolved 1988 Foxbody - Overheating Summer
  • MDrisc
  • Oct 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
16
Views
986
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 17, 2026
fasterthangas
F
Resolved Got Too Hot!!!
  • PonyGTrider
  • Apr 27, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
740
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 6, 2025
PonyGTrider
O
2001 mustang gt overheating
  • orinsmiley11
  • Jul 17, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
445
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jul 17, 2025
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?