overheat

[brett3533]

water pump not running the flow the proper way ? does your combination have reverse flow such as later model engines and fords do need to the reverse the polarity on water pumps sometimes so they run backwards

[Rory McNeil]

If its a small block Ford, both standard and reverse rotation water pumps were used. The cars with V belts uswed standard rotation water pumps, when the 79 Mustangs & Capris debuted, the 302 (5.0L) V8 was equipped with a single serpentine belt system, which used the reverse roation pump. However, other Ford during that period of time,(PU trucks, vans, Fairmont/Zephyr, Granda etc) retained the V belts and standard rotation water pumps.

[Lew Silverman]

Just one question -



Was this something that just started happening on a engine that was cooling properly? If this is a brand new combo, and you've already disassembled it (to check for the wrong head gasket, etc) and you're sure that, as others have noted, your water pump is rotating in the right direction, could you swap cylinder heads from side to side and see whether or not the problem follows? Could be nothing more than a blocked passage in the head not allowing proper coolant flow.


Hope you find your problem!

[340Cuda]

I am a Mopar guy so I will probably be of little help. However I saw something recently about cooling problems on small block Fords if a thermostat was not used. Seemed like you had to have the correct thermostat or block off a passage under the thermostat to get correct circulation..

Bill