VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 cooling problem

Hello,
I have a 1937 master deluxe. Water is coming out of the overflow tube. I have milled the head to make sure it seals. I did not find any cracks in the head. I can run for 20 miles, then I have to fill up with water. The temperature is OK for the first 20 miles and the rises (our of water). I have only owned the car for 6 mounths, so I am not sure about the history.
I think that the previus owner changed the radiator, due to that the fan came lose and destroyed the radiator. Can there be something wrong with the radiator?
What can I check for?
Best regards
Krister

Please do an advanced Search on the topic of "overheating" use the display name "Mike Buller." If you need more help searching our past posts read the post under the above FORUM Discussions--Public the second category is Chat Suggestions, Comments or Issues. The post is titled "Search Function tips by Keith Knox". You could also not use my name in your search and search just the Forum 1937- 1942.

Here is a past post to get you started: Overheating issue

Good luck, Mike

I had the same type of problem. Go through the basic cooling problem checklist:

1. Make sure the entire cooling system is clean and unobstructed. You may need to perform a high pressure engine flush to clean out all the sludge.
2. Confirm the pump is giving you good flow.
3. Test the thermostat and confirm it is opening when reaching the correct temperature.
4. Make sure the cooling air path is clear.

If you have a clean cooling water path, with a good thermostat, good flow of coolant and air then the only problem is the radiator. I did all the above, plus trying to descale the radiator, but once the radiator was replace, all the problems went away.

Good luck,
Brian

I have had two cases where the water was coming out of the overflow tube. You state that you run about 20 miles with water coming out of the overflow THEN IT GETS HOT. My 1937 Master did exactly the same thing. In my case, it didn't get hot then push water out of the overflow, it pushed water out of the overflow first then due to lack of coolant it got hot. In both of my situations, the baffle in the top of the radiator had broken loose. That allowed the water to blast against the top of the radiator tank and go right down the overflow tube. After taking them to the radiator shop we fashioned new baffles to spread the water across the top of the core and away from the filler neck (and thus the overflow tube) Solved the problem in both vehicles.

Hello,
I think I have solved the problem. Between the water inlet and the small inside the top tank, there is suppose to be a tube. It was missing. I solved this by sliding in a round chaped coppersheet from the water inlet. It was a bit fiddling, but it is there now. This tube will probably crack after some time. So I have to make a proper repair sometime in the future.

Krister

If that fixes your overheating problem, I'll be surprised.

Charlie

Hello,
I never said i had overheating problem. I said"Water is coming out of the overflow tube."
So now everything is working.
Krister

Water being forced out of the overflow is usually caused by overheating. The hot water boils in the block and the bubbles push the water out of the overflow tube. Can also be caused from things like a bad head gasket, cracked head, etc. or coolant level too high leaving no room for expansion.

The thread title is "cooling problem" which usually equates to overheating. I imagine that's how the overheating assumption was made. I'm glad you figured it out.

Tiny,



Krister,

Sorry I assumed that you did indeed have a cooling problem. Nonetheless, If you keep doing the same thing, I still doubt your problem is solved. Although, I do hope it is.

Please don't take offense. All of the responders were merely trying to help.

Charlie

Hello,
here is a picture of what I saw from the top inlet.
http://s1196.photobucket.com/user/k...amp;_suid=146445459594908951166540031411
I am new to pictures here so we have to see if it works.
Krister

The photo in the last post showed that the flow of the water goes strait on to the overflow pipe. If one drop hits the hole in the pipe it will come out, since the pipe is downwards all the way.http://s1196.photobucket.com/user/kristergranheimer/media/Radiator%20chevrolet%201937/Inlet%20on%20inside_zpskjsqakw6.png.html#/user/kristergranheimer/media/Radiator%20chevrolet%201937/Inlet%20on%20inside_zpskjsqakw6.png.html?&_suid=146449885823802372676022930607
This photo show what it locked like from the inside. Left is the inlet, and to the right you can se a hole, where the waterflow is suppose to go.
http://s1196.photobucket.com/user/k...amp;_suid=146449902950907384191514544894
Last photo show my solution. A sheet of coppar foldet to get it in through the inlet pipe. I am sure that this will eventualy crack, so it has to be fixed in a proper way later.
Do anyone have a picture of what a 37 radiator looks like inside the upper tank?
Krister

Lets try one more time with that photo.
http://s1196.photobucket.com/user/k...on%20inside_zpsozue2znz.png.html?filters[user]=145187455&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0#/user/kristergranheimer/media/Radiator%20chevrolet%201937/Inlet%20on%20inside_zpsozue2znz.png.html?filters%5Buser%5D=145187455&filters%5Brecent%5D=1&sort=1&o=0&_suid=146449949914508300117160202218
Krister

Krister:

Not sure if your '37 radiator is similar to my '38, but, when you put the coolant in there, you are not supposed to fill it up to the top. You need to leave about 2-3" of air space between the top tube header and the radiator cap. The coolant expands when hot, and will push any excess out the small tube.