Running hot

bsatocker68

Since I have got my car running, it has been running hot. I just finished replacing the head gasket because I notice some coolant seeping around the edge of the head. The water pump is rebuilt, new cap (7 pounds), and thermostat. When I did the thermostat, I put a modern 160 degree one in. When I did that I plugged of the bypass with a freeze plug, and drilled a 1/8 in hole in the plug. I also drilled a 1/8 in hole in the thermostat collar, which is what I read you have to do to run a modern thermostat. Does anyone have any ideas of why it could still be running hot? The coolant seems to be circulating as well.

Kdancy

Many of these older engines get crud build up in the back of the block water passage areas. Did you pull the water pump and see if the water distribution tube is still in place? I recently took one apart and found that the tube was missing. Make sure the sending unit is a good one and there is a possibility the guage is off.
It may pay to run a couple gallons of vinegar in the cooling system to break up crud and flush it out.

bsatocker68

Cool thanks. I will check those things, and try flushing it with vinegar. I have a thermal thermometer at work I keep meaning to bring home. I have thought that possibly the sending unit is bad or the gauge is reading off. I will check that too.

dave11

I had experienced this issue as well with my 52 308 in my case the issue was with the NOS head gasket I installed. There didn't appear to be any combustion gasses leaking into the coolant system, as I removed the thermostat and checked for bubbles in the radiator. Any way after having the radiator re cored, installing a 6 blade fan, (which helped the issue a bit) I replaced the head gasket with one from Best Gaskets supplied through Randy Maas and the problem dissapeared.

Jon B

By the way, what year is your Hudson and what engine do you have?

bsatocker68

It's a 51 pacemaker with a 232.