FWIW, I have had the 4-row from T-Bird on my 292 equipped '56 for several years, and it has always run a bit on the COOL side, even without a shoroud, and with the OE 4-blade fan.  Only tim eit gets much above the t-stat temp (180) at all is after a LOT of idling in a long parade on a very hot day, but even then , nowhere near boil over - I think the highest temp I have seen is about 200 or 205, tops.  ever.  You may want to try that for a while and see how it goes before you add extra fans, shrouds, etc.

Oh, I am also running a 13lbs cap - should lower that just to relieve some pressure....YMMV

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

If you are going to run an electric fan, use a puller with a shroud. I think Spall makes them that way, at least I saw some manufacturer's advertisement in the street rodder books that way.



You might want to thoroughly clean out the block water passages. I understand ordinary vinegar does a very good job.

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

Hey guys, been a few days since I was able to log on. My 1 year old duaghter broke her arm and had to have surgery

Anyway, I got the new radiator, 6 blade fan and shroud on yesterday.  Now I'd like to get a good guage to see what temp I'm REALLY running. 

Can anyone suggest a good guage and which ones to stay away from?

Thanks!

Andrew 56-Vicky

On the subject of electric fans. The Mustang and   the Jeep and off road guys are very high on the factory fan from the 3.8 Taurus. The two speed fan that has 3 wires and is 18 wide x 21 high. It is only a puller and on high it move a HUGH QUANITY of air but it also draws lots of amps, anywhere from 12 to 17. I just picked one up for $40 and the local pick u part sells them for around that. They have a shroud as part of the mount and are under 4 1/2 inch deep. On a 56 you could mount it ahead of the radiator as a puller with some fabrication. Pete

Just a thought about the electric fans. You may want to give Northern Auto Parts a shout - from what I have seen, they do have reasonable prices. Also check out Speedway Motors.

Sorry to hear about your install - I don't know what the issues are here, but I called the company that I bought it from (Autocity out in MN), and they said they have not heard of any troubles????? The radiator does cool well though - I like it!

Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

I also found only 1 place that sells shrouds for the 56 full size car. I found LOTS of T-bird and truck shrouds but had a hard time finding one for my car. (www.ThunderbirdSouthwest.com Owner Lance Harrington $170)



For the electric fan, I did some more lookin and poking around on the web. They are pretty pricey so I may wait on that and see how this other stuff works. BUT, want to see if anyone can comment on using a shroud for it or not.



I don't think it would be wise to use a shroud because I plan to mount a pusher on the front of the radiator. It seems it would block all the air from flowing into the radiator.



If I end up doing it I would probably just mount a simple fan on the front.



Thanks again!

[/quote]



The shroud will not fit the full size cars if you have power steering as the belt is in the way.

marv

Well, I got the radiator and 6 blade fan yesterday and put it in this morning.  I flushed it out really well.  It went well but was too wide for the existing spacer as Dan mentioned.  I milled it down but it was still too much.  I finally left it out completely and it is about 3/4" - 1" from the radiator. I'll throw some washers in there and put it to the 1/2" next week.  I had to go buy some shorter bolts for the fan since the stock bolts bottomed out.

I also put in the 180* high flow (#106) thermostat.  All seems well so far, I took it out on a test drive and as the guage reached the mid point, the thermostat opened and it stayed right there at the midpoint.

I also checked the timing and it is right on and seems that advance is still working well.

Thanks again for all the help.  I'll run it this way and tackle the other suggestions if it heats up again.

By the way, it's finally cruising weather again here and I'm loving every second of it!!

Andrew 56-Vicky

Andrew;



In case you still have the '56 double diaphragm Loadomatic distributor, I met a guy last weekend with a '56 Bird who traced his severe overheating problem to the retarded timing that resulted when that system malfunctioned. I also heard those parts are VERY hard to find.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

I don't think there is a "downside" to putting your temp sensor at the same spot the factory did (driverside rear). If your engine is happy with the operating temperature as it is right now - if it is stable and you have tuned the induction system for it - there shouldn't be an issue (unless you get cold feet in the winter) with the temp you've got.

Seems to me a classic way to check the system capacity is to remove the thermostat (or put in a washer with a thermostat poppet sized hole) - then run the system in the hottest conditions. Once the system volume has reached stability (thermal expansion stops running excess water out of the radiator cap bypass) and if you aren't overpressuring the standard cap with steam -  you've basically proved the system is adequate to cool the engine. If it overheats with no thermostat restriction, the pump capacity is too small or the radiator is too small or stuffed or there isn't enough fan - or maybe your engine is building a non-typical amount of heat (like way retarded timing while idling in a parade or traffic). Something will have to be improved or fixed.

Assuming stability, a check of water temp (at the thermostat housing) versus outdooor ambient will then tell you what the system "rise" is with the equipment you've got. You can then install a thermostat to raise the temperature up to where you want it. 

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Greg, Not much from the front to the back. I think your present sender is located on the back of the right hand head now. Should be another plugged hole in the crossover at the front of the intake, you could use that.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)