Breakin Woes

[1sicklx]

Alright, pull up a chair ...

After setting up the rocker arms for a second time the car fired right up smooth as a whistle. Everything checks out so time for a test drive.

First test drive ... car runs strong but doesn't want to idle once it gets warmed up. Cars develops coolant leak (and discover that water temp sensor is bad [always reads in the "green" zone) ... car runs hot. cool it off, fill the radiator, limp it home.



Cause of coolant leak turns out to be a split hose. Changed the hose. Everything checks out ... time for another drive.

Car still runs fine, but won't idle once it gets warmed up. Decide to go ahead and try the C&L 73mm MAF for $hits and giggles just to see if it makes a difference.

The C&L works great (surprisingly). No missing, or sputtering, Idle cleared up (or so it seemed) car ran smoother and seemed to breath a lot easier. Test drive complete ... all seems well.

NOT.


Now remember that we discovered that the water temp sensor was bad ... well after handing the car over to Tracie tonight the car decides it doesn't want to idle again ... then steam ... running hot. I had placed blame on the coolant hose splitting for it running hot the first time, but that seems not to be the case. As there is no leak to be found now.

I'm going out now to change the thermostat to a 180 deg in case the one that's in there is faulty. Also going to try to dig up a sensor for the water temp gauge so she'll have a little more warning when it starts getting to warm. Half-tempted to go ahead and put the new waterpump off of the black car on it just for good measure.



All in all, I have to admit this build has thrown a lot more curve balls than the 89 did. It will get sorted out ... just needed to vent a little. It's frustrating how a straight forward build up that could have been finished in one day has been delayed by parts shipping, faulty stock parts, and flat out bad luck.

So ... as it stands ... C&L MAF ... cooling system

[QWKSNKE]

Are you sure that all of the air has been burped out of the cooling system?

[Italian LX]

Originally Posted by QWKSNKE

Are you sure that all of the air has been burped out of the cooling system?

It can take a long time to get excess air out of the system after you do a head swap.

I have found that they best way to eliminate having to "burp" the system is to flush the coolant system with one of the coolant flush systems you cn buy at the auto parts store (less than $5). Basically, you end up using the water pressure from the garden hose to fill the block/heads and push all the air out. You also get the benefit of flushing any dirt or debris that may have gotten into the block while doing the swap.


On a side note, if you do go this route, don't even try to hook up the T-fitting where they say to (at the firewall). On the Mustang 5.0L, the line from the heater core to the intake is too short and bent to do anything with. I have a peice of hose and a T-fitting made up that I put in-place from the water pump to the intake hard-line at the front of the motor. It doesn't have to look pretty since I just remove it when I'm done and replace it with the factory hose.

[1sicklx]

Originally Posted by QWKSNKE

Are you sure that all of the air has been burped out of the cooling system?

Yep, replaced the thermostat, and going to do the sensor later today now it's wait and see.

[Crzypny]

After further investigation this morning it is showing hints of possibly being the fan not working properly.

[SthrnDaizey]

And we know about radiator flushing...especially on Crapoliers!



Hope you get it worked out Jonathon!

[1sicklx]

As it turns out the electric fan hasn't been working correctly, so it has now been wired up to run via switch.

[CrimsonRacing]

Someone back on the Mafia site ran their fan off a interior switch and forgot to turn it on one day.........

Got real lucky and did not burn up the engine.

Ya'll be careful...............

[One_live95]

if it's the ccrm causing it not to work, or the temp sensor i have both.

The water pump off the 89 won't fit onthe 95, because of a different timing cover. You cam buy a replacement motor for those fans if it is the motor.


jason

[Italian LX]

Originally Posted by CrimsonRacing

Someone back on the Mafia site ran their fan off a interior switch and forgot to turn it on one day.........

Got real lucky and did not burn up the engine.

Ya'll be careful...............

You're probably thinking of when Brad forgot to turn on his water pump in the Unicorn.