VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Engine getting hot

So I replaced my motor with a rebuilt 1954 235 and when I drive it on the freeway it begins to get hot and my Oil pressure begins to drop. I pulled the Thermostat out to see if that was the problem but I sitlll get the same results.Do you think that maybe my radiator needs to be redone and once that is fixed my temp should stay down and my oil pressure should stay up?

Check your lower radiator hose, first. When your RPM's are up and the hose is old/wimpy/wire rusted gone it tends to get sucked flat...If in doubt replace it...Had a 216 that all it needed was the metal tube piece added back in...No wonder the originals had one...

Wow really I think I bought a new hose but I do not remember it having a metal wire in it to keep it from collapsing I am off to check that now . If it dose not I am going to replace it. I will let you know my findings.Thanks for the help

Thanks for the info I changed out the hose and it is no longer getting hot.Now I have another question I have hydraulic lifters and want to know if when adjusting them all I need to do is bring them to zero lash and then 1 and 1/2 turn more. And I dont need to worry about the gap? Also I noticed yesterday when I ran it the outside temp was about 80 degrees and my oil pressure seem to be low even though my dip stick said full. I am running 15 40w oil Daleo oil and wonder if that is the reason why it seems to thin out when at running temp.

Your Welcome...

Warm up the engine and adjust them first to "quiet", then one full turn...

Your oil is already on the "thick" side...And I doubt it's thinning out, unless fuel is getting into the oil...

Being this motor is "new" to you, I'd say the oil pressure is either normal...Or the motor might be worn...

Tell me more about this motor...Kevin

Well the motor was completely torn down I had the head rebuilt and hard seats. I had the block dipped and cleaned along with the pistons. I had the lifters resurfaced along with the cam with a new cam gear. The motor runs real smooth and quite when I start it up but after a while of driving the lifters start to click . I was planning on draining my oil and putting in straight 30w or 40w

Changing the oil won't hurt anything...10W30 works well, I like straight 30W, too. 40W won't hurt, but I think it's a bit "thick" for start-up..And I'd bet the 40W really won't make much difference, as far as your oil pressure goes...But sometimes it does...Pretty "wishy-washy", huh...?

Now, does it sound like most all of the lifters are clicking...? Anyway, find the ones that do and adjust them a bit more...

Unless your sure you have a full-flow oil set-up, this oil pressure you have is what you get...You didn't change the pump while it was apart...?