[Tigers] Overheating

[Tom Witt]

You say you have, “... No expansion tank ...,”. Is it possible you have an air lock?  Recently I has one of my older cars on a slight forward facing downward slope. I opened the radiator cap and all seemed well. The next day I drove about 40 miles on a very cool morning without issue. Then, suddenly going up a hill I noticed a whisper of steam and saw the temp gage was pegged on hot. I was completely baffled as to how this occurred so rapidly and assumed either I had blown the radiator or a hose apart. After blowing steam at the side of the road for about 30+ minutes and observing nothing to have caused the rapid lose of coolant, I trickled water very slowly back into car.  The gallon I had barely met the need.

The rest of the journey (about 10 mile) was incident free as well as the trip  home with similar hills to climb and a now warmer temperature. My best guess is when I observed the coolant level the day before the slight slope gave a false measure of sufficient coolant. And it likely also didn’t show the heater core was not filled, but rather trapping air. Being a cool morning I had turned the heater on and as I ascended the hill the coolant present in the radiator flowed backwards, filling in the heater core and other space previously filled by air. Now the radiator was significantly low and the car overheated.

When I refilled the car after overheating it was facing up hill and any trapped air was removed thus no issues afterwards.  So, can you “burp” the system perhaps having it inclined upwards when you do?

From: Joel Martin via Tigers 
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 7:51 AM
To: Tiger List Serve 
Subject: [Tigers] Overheating



Well after 8 years and a gazillion dollars, I am officially completely discouraged.  I have the hardtop yet to put together, fit the new Robbins top which after stretching in the sun, still is about 2 inches from being even close to fit and wheel alignment.  Toneau cover and top boot covers look good though.

I have had my radiator, not an original tiger radiator, re-cored, rebuilt 289 engine – done by machine shop with .30 pistons, hipo heads, arp bolts, new values, oil pump, gaskets etc with new SS water pump, nothing left untouched.

Generator rebuilt, voltage regulator replaced multiple times, rebuilt AMP gauge – this worked for a few months.  Replaced generator with alternator, last week, 100 amp American made – older CAT 1 piece bracket and a Jaeger volt gauge – looking good on this front.

Overheating defined as greater than 210 at idle or running.  No expansion tank. Temporary manual temperature gauge installed until sort things out, if ever – did not feel could trust the electric sending unit or rebuilt gauge at this point. Things tried:
  1.. New copper core, I believe, not aluminum – totally taken advantage of by this individual here, so no confidence in job performed. 
  2.. 16 pound radiator cap – have used the SS 7 pound one as well 
  3.. 160 degree thermostat and 180 as well – 160 currently installed 
  4.. 14” 6 blade plastic fan 
  5.. Fan spacer made to move fan with 1” of radiator fins. 
  6.. Custom made fan shroud 
  7.. Spacer in upper radiator hose to slow down flow – have put this in and out multiple times, no real difference – currently installed 
  8.. 2 – 10” pusher electric fans with relay and in line 30 amp fuse, last thing I did, no help.

Oh and the SS heater control valve lasted 80 miles.  Moss Motors valve lasted about a week, the second Moss one leaking after about 10 minutes from cold start up.  All 3 diaphragms split and blew coolant all over.  Received credit and currently have plugged both hoses going in and out of heater valve so I could leave valve in place and look correct till overheating and better parts solution presents itself.

Here how things went from cold start up yesterday – about 72 degrees outside.
Starts on the first turn of the key.
Let idle until electric choke brings to 950 rpm.
Off we go, about 4 miles of running at 190.
Stop at stop light – turn on electric fans, temp up to 200 really quickly.
Running at 60 mph for another 10 miles at 200 degrees
Pull into gas station that is suppose to have ethenal free gas for new weed eater – not there 30 seconds – temp up to 210 with electric fans on.
Temp stays at 210 the next 12 miles or so – tried fans on and then off – no difference.
Next stop light, about 1.5 minutes, temp goes to 220, fans on
Stays at 220 until I can get home.
Blowing coolant, slight coming into house – not sure for how long.
Fans on, hood up – heat soak up to 230 before coming back down.

My last observations:  temp goes up amazingly fast when stopped at idle and does not come down with electric fans running or driving.  At one point, the temp used to drop when driving back to 195/200, not sure when this stopped.

I have had 3 different mechanics look at this with me to this point, no more recommendations from them unless try an aluminum radiator.

I am completely stumped at this point and beyond disappointment and discouraged.
So, team Tiger owners – ideas, recommendations or just put the car cover on it and leave it for the next person?

Joel Martin









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