Sounds like it's time to clean out the coolant passages in the block. After all these years it is probably collected quite a bit of rust and crude inside. The fan shroud will just mask the real problem. As does the use of products such as "water wetter". No engine should boil over at 70 F, regardless of idling time. You have a new radiator. Have you checked belt tension on the water pump? (Although this should also show on your ameter gauge) Bill Vancouver, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Lou To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 7:45 PM Subject: [FWDLK] er..who said don't trust the temp GAUGE? :-) Well, I think my gauge is accurate... I finally got the wheels and rebuilt brake booster back on the '59 Dodge, so I took it for its first ride of the year. when I got back, I let it idle with a little throttle in the driveway while I swept out the carport, then the phone rang... Bottom line, the car idled at about 1200 RPM for about 20 minutes. temp outside is 67ish (F) Temp gauge was pegged at H and I could smell antifreeze and see some steam. Just as I was getting in to turn off the engine, I could hear it Whoooosh. And then the antifreeze started pouring out of the overflow hose So....were 1959 cars just not meant to idle that long or do I have a legit problem? if this happened at 70 degrees, I hate to think what's going to happen in August...especially after I install a/c :-/ Car has a new 4 row radiator, 16lb lever-vent cap, 6 blade fan, 180deg t-stat. No fan shroud installed YET (but it never had one new either..sooo...think that will make that much of a difference?) I still wonder if the water jacket is plugged or corroded so much that the heat transfer is not good enough. Thoughts? Buyers? Lou
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