Classic/Antique Car Repair: Overheating troblems, ford mustang coupe, aluminum radiator


Question
QUESTION: I have a 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe with a 1982 302 from a crown victoria ltd. and it is bored out 20 over. I have a brand new aluminum radiator, 160 thermostat, 15 inch diameter flex fan with aftermarket fan shroud and I have problems with it getting hot. It hovers around 200 as long as I am in traffic but whenever I stop at a stop light for a extended amount of time it will creep up towards 212. Whenever the air is turned on it doesnt stand a chance in traffic. I have done everything that I know to do I am am open to anything. Any advice that you may have will be greatly appreciatted. Thank You

ANSWER: As is standard for my overheating subjects, you did not mention heater status. Is it functional or bypassed, if bypassed, how?

I would first remove the thermostat and run without it for a time or two and see if it makes a difference.

If this doesn't help, remove the actual upper radiator hose and run the engine and check actual waterflow. Keep a water hose going in the radiator to replace water loss.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have a functional heater and it is not bypassed. Would running the motor without a thermostat just prolong the problem of it getting to the upper temperatures?

Answer
It would give you answers and I believe that is what you are shooting for. If you pull the thermostat and then run the car,the same problem occurs, acknowledgeably at a longer time period, then you know it is not a problem with:

a: thermostat
b: hose size
c: restricted circulation at therm
d: pump cavitation due to therm.
e: overheating due to incorrect therm
    1. too hot
    2. too cold (yes, too cold)

It is a whole lot easy rather than typing all the analogies that go into each one of these, to tell you 'try this' and get the results from you.