my gut feeling is that my radiator (mk 2 escort) is not up to the job and played some part in my engine cooking.

I can see some crud build up but had no probs with the 1300 but maybe the extra ccs (330 ) was too much.

Anyways, I am looking at something like this:



it has 32 mm outlets but no radiator filler.

I have 2 options.
1. fit header tank and do some alterations to the plumbing
2. find someone to weld on a filler cap

I have a header tank so would need some hose to the radiator bleed point and a T-in to some other part of the system.

It is ford crossflow:
hoses are:
- thermostat to rad
- water pump to rad
- water pump to carb manifold/head

no heater.

so what would be the better of the 2, bearing in mind there is a risk of messing up the radiator to weld on the filler but at least I am famiualir with the set up.

for header tank, into whcih hose wouold I T into?

one of these from cbs is the simple option




direct link

[Edited on 29/11/09 by ashg]

A header tank is my fav, having owned both types now.
The header can be anywhere, and be the highest point, the other type requires the radiator to be the highest part.
A plastic tank you can see through, which is a bonus.
Darren

^^^ interesting - wasn't ware of an inline filler existing, hmmmm.... not sure I have the room for it though.

the header tank would need just 2 hoses - bleed to radiator plus another to t he water pump.

does it matter which water pump inllet I use - wold the belpopw plumbing be ok?

red is original - brown is header tank plubed into water pump inlet from the hosebetween it and the manifold - other is the radiator bleed.

do I need a bleed to the thermotstat housing if the radiator bleed is above it? ( I think not).
Rescued attachment cooling.JPG

Use a header tank and pipe into the system as near to the water pump inlet as you can. Air bleed from highest point back to header tank.

You will have no problems.

Header tank is the best solution however

All 70s Ford rad were really all the same and 1600 in place of a 1300 won't make overheat --- if it is over heating it could be.

(1) It needs a by-pass connection on 70s Fords coolant by pass was via the heater matrix --- the coolant flowed through heater even when the heater was set to cold.

or

(2) Ignition timing is too retarded.

I have just done this on mine.

You need a non pressure cap on the rad to start with.

Then junk the filler neck on the head for a fiesta one with a bleed on or get another non pressure cap onto it.

Join the bleed from the rad to the top of the expansion bottle, then t the bleed from the stat housing into this pipe.
T into the bottom hose and run a line from this straight to the bottom of the expansion bottle.

I would leave the line from the head to the water pump as it is. This is the only route the coolant can take when the stat is closed.

Image deleted by owner

[Edited on 29/11/09 by prawnabie]