Running Warmer than I Like

My 77 B, which has SU's and a 25D4 dist., seems to climb in temp when sitting at lights to about 1 o'clock on the guage, maybe slightly more. Nothing major and no boilover. But, it seems to stay there for too long afterwards and the electric fans stay on for an excessive period of time. This has a 160 degree thermostat and usually runs on the "N". Of course it has been hot here but seems to run hot at idle always. I havent checked timing but assume its advanced pretty high. Would this make a difference? Also, I may just add that Water Wetter juice from Redline and maybe even run just water in the system for the summer. The head was replaced last year and hoses are new. No play on the pump pulley. Carbs are rich if anything! Do I need to worry about something else or does this sound worthy of attention?

Only advice I can give is to not run just water. Antifreeze helps lower the temp too. If you do refill it, use distilled water, that will help extend the life of the cooling components. No minerals to bake and settle in the system. Mine's running high too, keep me posted.

I don't think you're running hot enough to be a problem. There are lots of guys here who would be happy with your situation!

If you run plain water, you'll need to add a rust inhibitor - that's an important component of antifreeze/coolant. Personally, I'd keep a normal collant mix in it. Even if you were running a lot hotter, changing to plain water would only make the problem worse in the long run...

That looks pretty normal from what ive seen on here the past 3 years or so. It's always going t take longer cooling down than heating up in hot weather, that's just geometry, or physics, or someting.

Maybe it is 'Political propaganda'!! :o) Just kidding!!

when the summer is over and you can take the time...back flush the system in two stages...use low pressure air on the heater matrix as I did and in reverse, the whole city sewer system blew out the intake and the 160 that I installed went to the halfway mark in 94 degree temp in a traffic jam....as rads blew I was cool....a lot of stuff ends up in the heater core due to the use and dis use....happy trails also 75% prestone...do not use dex cool.

Sounds normal to me. Just plain distilled water is the best coolant you can get. Coolant does not add any cooling. It will increase the boiling temp and decrease the freezing temp. It does contain some rust inhibitors and keep metals and minerals suspended and keeps its from collecting on the inside. Mix about 50/50. Was just check the same thing on the net myself this week. I have a V8 in my B now and must run an antifreeze for aluminum blocks. I would just mark the normal summer temp and keep an eye on it.

later, tom

Do check your timing, you may actually be running with it a tad retarded, which will cause it to run a little bit warmer. Plus, if it IS retarded, advancing it to spec will not only make it run cooler, you'll pick up a few extra ponies in the deal!

Just put my 71B back on the road. Here in the desert, most of the day is 105 degrees. When it gets over 100, my needle will go slightly past the normal mark when in traffic, and the car drops in idle by about 300 rpm. Starts to act like it is beginning to overheat at that point. However, in the thirty years I have owned this car it has always done the same thing in high heat. In the morning when it is only 80 plus degrees out, the car runs at 1/4 scale between low and normal. Make sure you have your radiator tested for flow and cleaned out if neccessary. If you have'nt done anything with the radiator in several years, you should take it to a good radiator shop and have it checked out. I also run water wetter with a 30% anti-freeze to 70% distilled water.