HOME | FORUMS | REGISTER |

This is the MCRParts.com archive. To get back to our main site, please follow this link: Ford Mustang

Pages: 1

Hot 65
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: xray98312

I just purchased a 65 Coupe and on the way home it overheated. The radiator was advertised as new, however it didn't take long to heat up. Granted I live in the desert, but it heated up fast!! A friend of mine also owns a 65 and his suggestion was to replace the thermostat. How common is it for the thermostat to go bad? Thanks for your help in advance. I'm new to this forum and I look forward to all of your future advice.

Matt.

Posted by: Barker02GT

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray98312

I just purchased a 65 Coupe and on the way home it overheated. The radiator was advertised as new, however it didn't take long to heat up. Granted I live in the desert, but it heated up fast!! A friend of mine also owns a 65 and his suggestion was to replace the thermostat. How common is it for the thermostat to go bad? Thanks for your help in advance. I'm new to this forum and I look forward to all of your future advice.

Matt.

I would suggest changing out the thermo as well as that would be my first guess. Especially if it has a new radiator in it. Well thermos do go out although it should not happen on a regular basis or anything. If you change it and this corrects the problem then you should be good to go. Also electric fans are a great addition for cooling versus a mechanically driven one. Btw, welcome to the board and hope you get your overheating problem fixed!

Posted by: bigiron

I am not a Ford machanic, but I would like a little more info.... Is the "new" radiator a stock replacement type or is it an aftermarket performance type? Is the shroud mounted in the correct position??... Does it have a shroud at all??... when it overheats, is it when you are just doodleing around or do you also overheat at highway speeds?? The first thing (and easiest) to change is the Thermostat, but there could be several other reasons it is overheating. What kind of mods are done to the car??? Is it a Pro Street car or just a stock ride??? To really trouble shoot a problem like this we need to know a lot of things... if it's a really built motor it may be that it's as easy as a timing issue... just a few thoughts to get me started this morning...

Keep us informed on the progress...

Bigiron....

Posted by: xray98312

Well, the thermo was replaced and it hasn't overheated. It overheated on the highway on the way home. It has the origional 289 V8, and I didn't notice a shroud. However, it has been suggested that a shroud would help. I'm starting to think the "new" radiator isn't so "new", so I'm thinking about replacing it. Would you recommend an aluminum radiator instead of a regular one? Thanks again for your guys help.

Also, what is up with all the play in the steering wheel? Is that normal? Is there a way to fix that? Thanks!!

Posted by: Barker02GT

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray98312

Well, the thermo was replaced and it hasn't overheated. It overheated on the highway on the way home. It has the origional 289 V8, and I didn't notice a shroud. However, it has been suggested that a shroud would help. I'm starting to think the "new" radiator isn't so "new", so I'm thinking about replacing it. Would you recommend an aluminum radiator instead of a regular one? Thanks again for your guys help.

Also, what is up with all the play in the steering wheel? Is that normal? Is there a way to fix that? Thanks!!

If you're going to go ahead and replace the radiator then I would suggest going ahead and getting an alumimum one. It will run cooler with that which will in turn improve performance. Not quite sure about the steering wheel part. Although I would say too much would not be normal.

Posted by: bigiron

If it were me... If it's not overheating anymore and the rad that you have isn't leaking... I'd leave it alone and put the money into other places... like taking it down to a front end alignment place and haveing the front end looked at... Find a REPUTABLE place... they can have that thing better than new...

I like rebushing everything and new ball joints (need'em or not) and front sway bar... and throw in a set of performance shocks to top things off... But that's me... also, I do all my own work so I can get by not paying for the labor... But if the front end feels "funny" it needs to be looked at.

Just my $.02