Thanks guys for all your help. Found a 7lb cap. Rad hose now at full hot is not quite as hard. Car runs at the same temp as it did. No leaks.

Nat, Believe it or not, I got one at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/compatibility-chart/B000B8N3FK?ie=UTF8&i=75

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I picked up a 7 lb cap right off the rack at Advance.  Made by Stant.

A.J.

South Jersey

SMSgt USAF Retired 
1955 Ford Ranch Wagon & a couple of old guitars...Life's Good!

Where are these 7lb. rad caps available? Do I ask for any special part number? Manufacturer? It is for a 57 Bird with stock rad.

Thanks guys

switched over to 7pounds seems to working good

FORD IS LIFE OIL N GAS IS MY BLOOD

Agree with Paul in that the 7 lb caps are not as stressful on the large tanked radiators like those that came on the ‘55/’56 Fords.  I continually had seepage issues around the soldered seam on the top tanks with the 13 lb caps and that problem simply went away when I switched to the 7 lb caps.  I’ll have to thank the old timer at the radiator shop for helping me out with that one.  There ends up being less expansion taking place with the lower rated cap and have had no heating issues or coolant loss as a result.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Don't know all the circumstances, but since the rads not new, unless you have experienced overheating or drive regularly in a very hot environment, I'd go down to a 7 lb. I've done that on two oldies, without any problems. Wish lower pressure ones were available for late models, like Honda Accords.

Paul

ok guys so i just put in a semi new radiator was cleaned out repaired all that other good stuff i took the cap off the old radiator and put it on the new one its a 13 psi cap what would you guys recommend i put on there

FORD IS LIFE OIL N GAS IS MY BLOOD