Thanks for the help. I'm going with the Casco HO water pump, the 170 degree wide mouth thermostat, new hoses, the big champion radiator and NO BAFFLE.  I rebuilt the radiator support bracket,  Now all I have to do is replace the damper pulley since it is up against the front engine support mount.....no gap.  Thanks again.  

Unless I'm mistaken, it looks like Phil has a shroud, just not  the stock one.  The stock shroud may work, but not totally as the bottom part of a bird shroud is almost worthless.  For a shroud to do the best job, it has to completely enclose the radiator except for the part where the fan is (which looks like Phil has).  By totally enclosing the radiator, the fan draws air from the total surface area of the radiator, not just the part where the fan is.
CASCO has a lower shroud (for TBirds) that does a better job in drawing air through the lower part of the radiator.





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Phil, using the radiator you have can you put the fan shroud back on it.  I see you left it off since you don't use a fan blade.  I just purchased a 6 blade non clutch fan and I wanted to use it, so I need the shroud.  Charlie (Titusville Fla.)

If you are talking about the stainless steel baffle that is an aftermarket piece, that will not work with the Casco water pump.  The Casco water pump impellors reach much further into the water pump cavity thus promoting additional water flow into the back of the timing cover and then into the block.  As mentioned previously, those baffles do not help with the Thunderbird cooling issues and in many cases simply makes the problem worse.  Leave it out and use it for wall decoration.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I don't think so, but I would contact CASCO and ask them.  Their tech line is very good.





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

do I need to use the baffle with the casco  HO pump?

From TED's Post -

...use the Casco water pump with the extra thick water pump impellor which is designed for use with the oem one inch Thunderbird spacer.

What would be nice (IMO), in addition to the improved spacer, is if the CASCO WP impeller would fit an OEM pump. Best of both worlds.

____________________________

If you want to fix your Thunderbird's cooling problems forever, do what I did.  My '55 Bird ran hot in traffic.  Here in Florida it is not uncommon to have high ninety degree days in the summer.  At long lights or waiting in line to get into a cruise night parking lot, my temp gauge needle would peg and I would have to shut off the motor. I finally capitulated and installed a $200 Champion aluminum radiator.  I removed the stock fan and installed an electric fan in it's place. I also installed a wide gap 170 degree thermostat.  I am running a stock iron water pump.  You can not make my car over heat.  It sits on 170 degrees in all weather conditions.  It's not concours, but it works.

55charliebird.  The one inch spacer used on the 'Birds between the water pump and the timing chain cover is the root reason why the 'Birds have a cooling problem and the passenger cars usually do not.  Exacerbating the 'Bird's cooling system problem is the fact that the under-hood operating temperature of a 'Bird is higher than any of the '55 - '57 Ford or Mercury passenger cars.

IF you haven't already read this information submitted by Ted Eaton, I'd encourage you to do so.  That said, consider reading other's input in this thread as well.  Click the link below for this previous entry.

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost135031.aspx

Hope this helps!    


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I installed the baffel a long time ago. Seemed to help some but not totaly. When I rebuilt the engine a few years back and totaly re did the car I unstalled a 6 blade clutch fan and an electric fan in front of the radiator. Problem solved. Don't have to use the electric fan much.