I have purchased two thermostats from two vendors (exact same thermostat) and both failed (stuck closed) within a matter of a few weeks. These are the 10 to 11 dollar thermostats sold by the popular vendors. Has anyone else had a similar experience with these? My radiator is clean and in good shape, and the water passages in the block have been flushed out twice. Suggestions?
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Welcome to the VFF
Have you tried testing it in hot water? Is this the style stat that sits inside the upper hose? Was it installed in the proper direction?3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctr -
Hey tjnknox, WELCOME to the VFF!!
I personally don't use a stat. I find the problem more the time the water is in the radiator to cool it. What I have done with great success placed a 1¾" washer with the hole turned out to 1" to just slow the water leaving the radiator down so it has more time to cool it before exiting.
Hmmm, gives me an idea...why not put the stat in the exit of the radiator.................hmmmmmYou wana look waaay far up da road and plan yer route because the brakes are far more of a suggestion than a command!Comment
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Here is a link to our thermostat tech page
https://www.vintagefordforum.com/for...at-information3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctrComment
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I don't have a thermostat, yet, but after a short drive (3 or 4 miles) I use an infrared thermometer to check temps. I usually find the front of the head around 145, the rear about 150 and the lower hose pipe about 125. Based on those results, a thermostat in the lower hose may cause an overheated engine.Comment
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I use a thermostat in the top hose, and place it as close as possible to the head. I also drill a couple 1/8" holes in the stat so the hot coolant flows by it, and will heat the wax pellet when the temp reaches 180*. Here's a picture showing the barbed part I cut from a 2" PVC coupling. Never mind the drier sock in the radiator hose, as that was a failed attempt to make a filter to catch rust particles before they enter the radiator. The drier sock tore and blocked some radiator tubes, so now I use a fine brass screen.
The heavy brass part is a tool I made to remove and install the rear bushing. Also shown is the locking collar and nylon thrust washer used to control the end play. I like that better than using the head casting to keep the shaft from moving rearward.
Water Pump Parts.jpgComment
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Modern Thermostats RARELY ever FAIL!!!!----A Model A Suppliers' sleeved thermostat, in the upper end of the upper hose, works GREAT. NO extra drilled HOLES are needed. Make sure the cupped valve faces UP!!! Minerva did fine for over 12,000 Miles, with a 160 Degree thermostat, this way!!!!.png "smile")
Dad SimpleComment
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I had a thermostat fail after a few months and bought an engine overhaul because of it! Put in another & doing fine now.Comment
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I use a 180 t stat in the upper hose and have had no problems.Comment
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You can research the MOST dependable car out there & some JACKASSES will BAD MOUTH IT!!!---Like, "It only had 37,000 miles & it SLUDGED up SO bad, it wouldn't RUN"!!---Dumb Ass probably never changed OIL!!!
Dad Skepticaloftheinterwebandtrustveryfewfolks (A TRUE Friend is one who'll share his ANTI-PAIN-PILLS, when you're in a pinch! HURTIN' AIN'T FUN!)Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 01-26-2018, 05:06 PM.Comment
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I've posted about this before, but am at a new stage before pulling the radiator so wanted to start with a fresh new post.
First background: I started the TLC of my father-in-law's Model A last year. First time out after changing out filters in bowl and filling up a dry gas tank I spewed a huge amount of rusty water. Got her home and shoved a hose down the radiator and flushed a lot of...07-04-2020, 03:21 PM -
I recently did a chemical flush (Blue Devil chemical) of my radiator - drained and flushed, then added 50/50 Sierra antifreeze. This past year I used distilled water with water wetter. When I did the chem flush a lot of rusty water came out but no rust chunks. Continued flushing with water until it came out clean, then added the 50/50 antifreeze. Yesterday, not an overly warm day for SoCal, the...02-28-2020, 03:01 PM
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Along the lines of Mitch's post, I don't know the answer to this, but so many of us have had problems with cooling and the blocked radiators, I wonder if there could be some good calibrated check of the rate of flow through a radiator. For instance, keep pouring water into the radiator so that it is full (flowing out the overflow tube and top of the radiator won't matter) and then disconnect the...08-13-2017, 09:03 AM -
I have read that the Model A has a Thermosyphon cooling system, even though it does have a water pump. I read where the clearance allows water to pass the water pump impeller if the pump were not operational. So if you had a fan belt break or some other issue that you had to run the car without the water pump operational, still mounted on the motor but not spinning, would the thermosyphon action work...06-01-2018, 03:59 PM -
Hello, brand new to this forum. I inherited a 1922 Model T Touring from me grandfather recently and trying to get it road ready. Issue is with the radiator, is there a pressure purge valve on these radiators? My particular engine has a rotary shaft water pump set up. Any help would be appreciated!...11-09-2020, 06:19 PM -
Last time I drove my ute any real distance, it overheated and boiled. I blamed a dodgey thermostat so I removed it. The trip home (over 100 miles) was uneventful so I thought I had solved he problem but yesterday, I went for another run and one way, things were fine but on the way home (this time about 23 miles each way), I saw the temperature spike and the engine boiled again. (remember there is...01-07-2020, 07:24 PM -
This is a newly purchased Model A pickup. Not sure what’s original, what’s not. Not sure what’s been done to motor, seller said he last drove the truck 19 years ago after complete rebuild. It was kept in a heated, dry garage. Appearance-wise it’s in excellent condition. Motor, etc.also very clean.
When cold it starts immediately. The problem is when driven about fifteen miles,...07-16-2018, 09:44 AM -
Yesterday I took my longest road trip to date since buying Rose. Purring down the road at 50+ mph and then the Quail in front of me started pissing in my direction. Boy of boy was it hot. So to stay positive, I'm pretty sure I boiled the radiator clean;) After reading most of the threads on radiators and cooling issues, I have a plan of attack to determine if I damaged anything. I do not have any...07-14-2019, 10:20 PM -
See the attached photo. This was taken a couple months ago when it was still colder outside and I would go out to the garage every week or so during the winter and start the car up for a while or even take it for a few mile drive. Since then I cleaned it out, but now after about 100 miles and warmer weather, it is forming again. Weather now is in the upper '70's to low '80's
If I hold...You do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 1 photos.05-08-2018, 03:23 AM -
I use a thermostat in all my cars, including my Model A's, so this warning applies to modern and Model A cars. As many now know, I was in Arizona for 2 months to reunite with my girlfriend from the 70's and also to buy a nice rust free Buick. When I returned home the other day I noticed the engine temp would only get up to 109*. Even after completely blocking the air in front of the radiator, the...02-15-2019, 10:23 PM
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