Under geared and under cooled

[Mark Reeve]

Hi All,  As a Newbie here Im shaw this has probably been asked before ,But does any one out there have the same problem as me !!!!    Melos fitted with 2ltr Pinto ,what looks like 4speed escort box and axle/ radiator.  Runs fine if I keep below 50mph but over heats eventually if I go faster not shaw if its because of the escort rad or the fact that the gearing is so low.

[Adrian Southgate]

1- Buy a lead light, a proper mains powered one.

2- Do you have the standard escort heater box? if so then either bypass it or make sure its absolutely clear.

3- Is there any chance you are venting from one or more pistons under pressure into the water jacket, any sign of oil in the water or water on the plugs?

4- Check the timing belt hasnt jumped one tooth and that the dizzy is right.

5- fit a bleed valve in the top most pipe of the system make sure there is no air whizzing round the system.

6- Does the rad have a vent in the filler neck? if yes then connect it to an overflow bottle and change to a low pressure cap while doing the tests. You'll see overflow earlier and by reducing the pressure in the system it'll be less likely to vent into the pistons if thats the problem.

[Dave Adams]

Yeah looking at your car that rad grille looks restrictive...........

[1midz0wwbl268]

try changing that mesh for a courser one,  see if that helps,   and fit baffles  , on my melos i have had to fit my radiator in the nose cone slanting backwards, with a pusher fan, i have a baffle that directs the air through radiator  i could not get my radiator to fit any other way because of the surround that forms the baffle.

[Dave Adams]

i use thin  ply to make baffles the 3mm stuff can be cut to shape with a stanley knife and the exterior grade lasts for years with a lick of black paint.

[Mark Reeve]

Hi All ,    Thanks for all the advise, Ive been having a play today .Removed grill made up some wind deflectors so the air has got no where to go apart from through the rad  ........ WOW what a difference!!!!!!!       Normal trundling around temp barely gets out of the cold zone  and higher speeds just about make normal  :0)  Hope this is not just helped by the fact that the weather is cold and wet lol,, think I will still fit an electric fan as well Now Ive just got to fix the other 2 hundred million little things lol.  Many thanks again :)

[Dave Adams]

You'll need the thermostat again......
Glad we could help.....