1937 212 overheating

EB3Terraplane
EB3Terraplane Member
in "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise

I just bought a 1937 Super Terraplane two door sedan. It’s a 29,00- mile car which has been well cared for.

It runs well but it is overheating. I took it about 3 miles on the highway at 60 after putting around so I thought it might’ve been the highway speeds. I have taken it on a couple of drives since at 30 +-miles an hour stopping for lights and traffic signs and it’s overheating in those conditions as well. I don’t know precisely how hot, but hot enough for it to be bubbling, but not crazy steam. Yes I’ve been careful, just testing to check conditions.

i’ve checked the belt tension and the coolant is a translucent green, which doesn’t appear to have rust in it. I checked the spark plugs and they’re running a good temperature color. I have not checking the timing yet. The hose is not collapsing.

Wondering if there are Goto things to look for with these engines, as I am new to flathead I6’s. Thank you in advance

Comments

  • EB3Terraplane
    EB3Terraplane Member
    IMG_0994.jpeg
    IMG_0995.jpeg

    Well bummer, it won’t let me add photos of the engine and radiator which we’re taking with the same camera. Go figure.

  • 54coupe
    54coupe Member

    It is common for the water jacket on the driver side of the engine to be rusted out internally, and not controlling the water flow properly.

  • EB3Terraplane
    EB3Terraplane Member
    IMG_0565.jpeg
    IMG_0564.jpeg

    Outsmarted my iPhone by doing a screen grab of my existing photo

  • EB3Terraplane
    EB3Terraplane Member
    https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/comment/255940#Comment_255940

    Thank you. I should probably disassemble the jacket and pump to inspect those components before I pull the radiator and have it rodded out.

  • MikeSheridan
    MikeSheridan Member

    While you have the water jacket off, look around the edge of the cylinders and see if there are pile of rust. There probably are. This should all be poked loose with a screwdriver and then shop vac' ed out.

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