Now that the Perana is running and on the road I'm finding and fixing stuff.
One thing that is bugging me big time is this.
The 302 is getting hot. Quite how hot I won't know til I've Thermo gunned it.
These are the symptoms -
1. engine incredibly hot like a furnace.
2. Losing coolant in differing ways I'll explain.
3. Seems like excessive build up of pressure in water system - will explain also.
4. top of rad gets so hot that no matter how much or how little black paint I use it still blisters and melts.
Now the thing is - when it was a standard 'cooking' engine and sadly worn and under powered it never got hot and never lost fluid.
With a 13 lb rad cap the water pushes past the cap and out of the overflow hole.
With a 15 lb cap it seems to do the same but to a lesser extent - i.e. I've not witnessed it spurting out but when I've rested the motor and the electric fans have finished - when I take the cap off it's down of fluid.
With a 20 lb cap on the radiator top tank expands and bulges like it's fit to burst and fluid has still been lost.
Having said all that - I just did a 50 mile return journey having changed back to the 15 lb cap and I only lost about 2 pints - but that's still 2 pints too much.
My coolant ratio is 50% water and 50% blue antifreeze.
The water never seems to boil up and hiss and spit out - well not when stationary anyway. My money would be on some sort of pressure thing.
I have attached some pics showing my hose set up.
The water pump is a relatively new aluminium one suited for a 1971 vintage 302.
The hose connections are different now as I was told the original setup on my car was wrong - funny thing is it never previously lost fluid.
I have been driving like Miss Daisy with occasional blip to overtake and exercise the 302.
The engine spec is - 5 litre with 20 plus pistons Keith Black Hypereutectic pistons. Standard cast heads with new valves and slightly ported. all new gaskets from Summit Rcaing. Duplex timing chain. High capacity oil pump. Holley 570 Avenger carb. Fast road type cam.
Ignition is Accel dizzy with Pertronix breakerless Ignitor system. MSD Blaster 2 coil. 3 inch air filter.
Cosworth electric twin fans - sucking the air through the rad in the right direction!!
Radiator is a 2 year old 5 core beast.
Heater matrix brand new copper / brass.
Timing is 34 degrees.
Plugs NGK Mustang type.
Any thoughts would be gratefully received.
Having searched the Internet it seems that there are loads of possibilities - some of which are scary some are simple but none are conclusive.
I do wonder my water circulation is an issue now The arrows do not necessarily indicate direction of water flow.
