8n overheating

wiskers8n · Apr 16, 2012

I have a 47 model 8n that has been overheating since I bought it. i'll start bushhogging and about 20 min into it starts blowing steam out of the radiatior. I put a temp gauge on it and the steam starts when it hits 200. I have replace the radiator, put a head gasket on and took out the termostat. Dont know if it could be the waterpump or i need to put a electric fan on it. Any help would be apperciated

Egon · Apr 16, 2012

Pull the head and find the crack.

wiskers8n · Apr 17, 2012

Wouldn't there be water in the oil if the head was cracked?

Egon · Apr 17, 2012

Not necessarily. It could also be a gasket.

mostly_gas · Apr 18, 2012

I presume you checked the fan belt tension already. You can check for proper water pump function by taking the radiator cap off and looking for good flow through the radiator. Some cooling systems don't work as well without a thermostat. Don't know if 8N is one of them but if flow is not very obvious then try putting new thermostat back in, easier than water pump.

Soundguy · Apr 18, 2012

there are no oil passages in a flathead on an 8n.

an electric fan on an 8n is like an escape dingy on the space shuttle.

check the water pump.. impellor might have rotted off.

removing the thermostat is a horrible idea...

soundguy

stefanoworx · Sep 11, 2013

I had the same issue with mine, turned out after pulling radiator and the head I had the wrong radiator cap. But at least I found out the head was good, the radiator flowed Ok. The new cap cured the problem.

94BULLITT · Sep 11, 2013

Is the belt tight on the water pump?

What did the coolant look like when you changed the water pump?

Is the fan on the correct way?

Old Virginia Joe · Sep 19, 2013

stefanoworx said:
I had the same issue with mine, turned out after pulling radiator and the head I had the wrong radiator cap. But at least I found out the head was good, the radiator flowed Ok. The new cap cured the problem.

So, somebody please tell, what IS the right radiator cap for these old Fords? Is it the same cap for all 8,2, 9, 600, 800, 4000? Teach us how to know what to use, please, thanks.