Break In Overheating

Discussion in 'Technical' started by stevelonie, Oct 27, 2004.

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  1. stevelonie

    stevelonie Member

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    Hey guys just fired up my newly rebilt 302 for the first time last night last night. It fired right up on the first crank(good sign). I wanted it to run for a good 30 minutes for the break in but after about 5 minutes it started draining water from the overflow on the cap. The temp. rose to 230 degrees.The top radiator hose felt cool so I shut it down thinking the thermostat failed. Replaced the thermostat with a 180 degree and the rad cap with a 18 lb and fired it back up today. It ran good and cool and slowly rose to 230 degrees after 15 to 20 minutes but it pushed out 3/4 gallon or water again so I shut it down. My rebuild book suggested useing cold water from a garden hose with the drain plug open for the break in to keep the heat down. Does anybody know what a safe max temp. would be? Any other suggestions or ideas? Thanks Steve Lonie
     
    stevelonie, Oct 27, 2004
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  2. dmhines

    dmhines Dixie Maverick Boy

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    Head gaskets on backwards? Timing way off? Running too lean?
     
    dmhines, Oct 27, 2004
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  3. Earl Branham

    Earl Branham Certified Old Fart

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    Do you have a fan shroud? Running without one can make the car heat up gradually, and overheat. Mine did that.
     
    Earl Branham, Oct 27, 2004
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  4. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

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    make sure the timing is correct. thats one of the first things i check. i've had to run it for a while to break it in, then let it cool and restart it. dosen't seem to hurt anything.:)
     
    don graham, Oct 27, 2004
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  5. stevelonie

    stevelonie Member

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    I do not have a fan shroud yet. Also the fan is about 5-6 inches away from the radiator. I'll have to find a longer spacer to bring it closer. Anybody have a shroud they want to part with? I'll probably have to adapt one from some other ford since all of my 3 Mav are without.
     
    stevelonie, Oct 27, 2004
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  6. Earl Branham

    Earl Branham Certified Old Fart

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    AutoKrafters has them, but it is said the quality is bad. I'll be on the lookout for one.
     
    Earl Branham, Oct 27, 2004
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  7. dmhines

    dmhines Dixie Maverick Boy

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    Fan should be 1-2 inches away from the radiator ... need to get the correct spacer ...
     
    dmhines, Oct 27, 2004
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  8. scott

    scott Member

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    may sound stupid but ihave seen the impellor on the water pump on backwards from the factory. it is possible that this is the problem or just maybe the wrong water pump.
     
    scott, Oct 27, 2004
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  9. masondr19

    masondr19 Member

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    Scott is right. 302 roller engines use a reverse rotation water pump.
     
    masondr19, Oct 27, 2004
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  10. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

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    What is the compression of your new motor vs the old one. If you run regular in a high compression motor it will over heat quick.
     
    Mavaholic, Oct 27, 2004
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  11. Dan Starnes

    Dan Starnes Original owner

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    I think you might have an air bubble in the system. I have seen this many times. Can be a tuff thing to get rid of.
    Dan
     
    Dan Starnes, Oct 27, 2004
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  12. igo1090

    igo1090 Member

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    i would suspect thermostat and then water pump, in that order. if already replaced the thermostst then got to water pump. either inop or turning wrong direction. if still have doubts about thermostat, try leaving it out. cold top hose indicates no circulation for some reason.
     
    igo1090, Oct 27, 2004
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  13. black396

    black396 Member

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    Is the top rad hose actually cool?
     
    black396, Oct 27, 2004
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  14. Country Mav

    Country Mav Die-Hard Ford Guy!

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    I was thinking of the Backwards rotation water pump myself. I ALMOST made this mistake. I'm sure that the fan has a good bit to do with it though. Good luck!! Hope you get it figured out!! Preston
     
    Country Mav, Oct 28, 2004
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  15. Maverick_70

    Maverick_70 Member

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    I would have to agree with this!

    I too have had a car overheat upon starting a break-in or when replacing heads. Air in the cooling system was always my problem(wouldn't rule out head gasket on wrong as a possibilty).
     
    Maverick_70, Oct 29, 2004
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