[RocktimusPryme]

I asked this question on FB but I trust you guys more.

I have a new 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari project. Today was my first chance to get deep into it. After I had bought some parts. Tires, new radiator, some other stuff.

Tale of the tape. Its a runner, but not really a driver if you get me. So thats what Im doing here. Taking it to that driver level.

This thing has a swapped-in 455 Olds. Not my choice, but it is what it is. Actually runs pretty solid, but its a turd. Mid-70s J head motor. It had a radiator in it that was hideous and didnt seem to radiate. Beat to hell, didn’t fit, needed changed.

So I put in my new radiator. Debacle looking for hoses and everything that would fit. Finally got to fill it up, and as soon as you turn it on it starts steady pouring out of the vent tube. Low pressure, you can put your thumb over it and stop it.

I plugged the vent, let it run for about 5 minutes. On my mechanical temp gauge once it came up on the gauge it climbed quickly. Went from 100 to about 210 in maybe a minute and a half. I shut it off, and the gauge stabilized at about 180.

I get out and while the engine was warm, the radiator hoses, and tanks were cool to the touch. I popped the cap slightly, it had a little pressure but the water wasnt warm. Fluid clearly wasnt pumping in the radiator, because when I drained it a little it had antifreeze at the bottom and clear water at the top like I poured it in.

Oil is clean and normal. Not milky.

I popped the thermostat housing off. I do have a thermostat that I know is good, but Olds uses a goofy three hole gasket that I dont have.

What do you guys think? Thermostat or water pump? Or other?

Ive never had a water pump that spun, didnt leak, and didnt pump.

I think I might acquire a gasket and then run it with no thermostat and leave the cap off the radiator. That should show water pumping in the radiator if the water pump is working right?

[leeklm]

My initial thought was rwmove thermostat or replace with a 1/2" or 3/4" hole washer. Should at least let you narrow the problem down.

Thermostate easy enough to test, drop it in a pan of water and boil to see if it opens.

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[Formulas]

what i usually do with a unknown old engine i pull block drain plugs remove any draining obstructions open the radiator petcock remove thermostat reinstall housing put garden hose in radiator flowing just enough to keep it full run the engine robustly untill exiting water is clean

then in your case install block plugs close petcock fill radiator run it looking for flow in radiator if none then pull water pump and evaluate from there

[RocktimusPryme]

Mystery somewhat. solved. I couldn’t deal with it and went outside, popped the thermostat housing on with no gasket. Told myself that if it makes a mess that is actually good news.

With no thermostat in it, it was both pushing fluid out of the housing and visible running in the radiator. So while it doesn’t promise the water pump is like new, it’s doing something. That old thermostat must have been dead stuck.

I’ll get one of those goofball three hole gaskets tomorrow, put one of my stats I have lying around and hopefully that’s the end of it.

[steve25]

Sounds like other then getting a Pontiac motor back in it you have the issue solved.

Enjoy!

[RocktimusPryme]

Probably. I have a gasket ordered that will be here at noon. Then we will see. I have one of the good EMP style thermostats to throw in. See how it goes.

I have been casually looking for a 389 or bigger Pontiac locally. I’ve always wanted to try a cheap at home rebuild on a running but tired motor. So I’ve been looking for something like that. The biggest problem is that when they put in the Olds mounts they cut off the factory engine mount tabs. That sucks.

[wbnapier]

Please post a pic of the car, I love wagons.

[Formulas]

I wouldnt hesitate to use a Pontiac 350 or even a 326 they come dirt cheap and do the job and because they have sufficient non brutal torque you could use a 200 overdrive trans and the deep first gear ratio would make those 2 engines feal bigger then sip fuel on those desert roads

[RocktimusPryme]

I’ve considered a 350, or even trying to do a cheap stroker out of a 350. I only hesitate because it’s a heavy wagon.

I’m going to comet wash it later. I’ll post some pictures after I wash it. It will still be crusty but less so.

[RocktimusPryme]

That seemed to fix it!

Got my gasket today, put a 160 high flow I had laying around. It actually wouldnt even get all the way up on the thermostat in the cool weather. Around 145* you could see coolant start to circulate in the radiator and that is all it needed to maintain temp. Im going to take it on a maiden voyage around the block. Not far because I don't have brake lights.

I spent several hours, pressure washing, SOS pad washing, then normal washing with some car soap and a sponge. It looks way better. It isnt the prettiest girl at the dance by any means, but its solid.

It has a metric ton of masking tape over the molding near the roof where they rolled it during the Jurassic period. I was hoping some goof-off and the pressure washer would make short work of it. It did not. I’m going to have to fight with that.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Glad you got it all sorted! Sometimes for fear of running "too hot," (which for us, is the temp these cars regularly ran at when bought new), we go overkill on the cooling systems. Guilty of it, myself. The only time my temp gauge even hits 160 is during high noon at summer time.

[694.1]

I think that Wagon needs an OHC!

[steve25]

160 is too cold!

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by steve25

160 is too cold!

Long term maybe, but I had it and I knew it worked. The upper hose is a trash pile, so I want to change that down the road anyway. When I find one that fits I might put a 180 in it depending on how it acts with the 160.

[steve25]

This chart may interest some here.