Overheating Ford CVH

[twincams]

I have had problems with overheating on a ford CVH engine converted to RWD I have purchased a Alloy radiator and tried that still overheating and low oil pressure, so purchased a second engine stage 111 still same problem then rebuilt the original radiator and refitted, also removed cylinder head and skimmed fitted new water pump and still overheating removed thermostat have been working on this problem for coming up to two years, I cannot help thinking it should be a simple problem to solve but have to admit it has beaten me, have now even purchased a CVH engine from a Reliant SS which runs as RWD set up just to see how they run. I did note that on the reliant the water pipe from the thermostat runs to bottom of radiator not the top as we are doing to the top but have checked and it’s as ford run the fiesta / Escort. Any ideas help needed

To date had two radiators, Head skimmed ,New water pump ,Replaced engine,
Tried with thermostat removed

[Paul Drawmer]

Sounds more like a fundamental fault in the cooling design, or there's a bleeding problem and the water isn't circulating due to a large air bubble.

What car is it, and can you post a diagram of the plumbing?

Does it over heat quite quickly, or only when it's been thrashed?

[ColinM50]

As you say cooling's not rocket science and I suspect it's going to be a fairly straightforward solution. I'd double check the following before going much further

Have you really checked that your water pump's up to the job?
Is the rad big enough and not blocked?
Is the fan big enough and switching on and sucking correctly?
Is ALL the airflow going through the rad?
And finally are you sure you've not got an airlock in the cooling water?

The biggest one I reckon is to make sure ALL the air goes through the rad and I'd certainly look at that first. I had a cooling issue on my Sabre with a CVH engine but once I cowled the front of the car so that all the airflow that came into the grill had to go through the rad and couldn't escape round the sides or top and bottom, the temp dropped to much more acceptable level and I've not had an issue since. It's fairly easy to make up some aly cowling that stops the airflow escaping round the sides.

[twincams]

Hello Paul thanks for advice the car is a lotus special R.W.D with type 9 gearbox prior to my ownership the car had done 20,000 miles am told with this set up, and know this to be true as I have seen the road tests, it’s the same set up as fitted to a reliant SS Scimitar 1.6 CVH I have even purchased a engine from a reliant SS, there is difference on the reliant CVH the pipe from the thermostat feeds to bottom of radiator. The pump is new, radiator original rebuilt, override switch for fan, it overheats during normal driving and has done ever since I have owned the car, a local garage fitted a new engine he is a very knowledgeable guy but problem still there, if you have a diagram showing how should be plumb would be a great help, just not sure what to do next

[twincams]

Hi Colin thanks for advice it’s the 2nd pump tried with two radiators, it’s the original fan now with override switch, I cannot see how I would have had permanent air lock but with no thermostat should flow ok the air intake grill is quite small but has always been that way but will try sealing round the radiator

[one eyed mick]

Maybe of the wall but are you sure it o/heating is gauge correct ? for give me if you have checked this out already but some times it is hard to see the wood for trees

[twincams]

Hello Mick thanks for that but I have fitted new Temp Guage

[GinG15]

how many miles you need to drive until the overeating appears to start?

what temperature does the engine reach then?


as you have tried lots of differnt possibilities to come behind your problem an none of them seemed to solve anything, could it be that you dont get enough air to or through the radiator?

is it a seven-type car? if yes, have you tried to drive without bonnet and nose-cone?