A Couple Engine Questions 400sbc

My buddy has a 400sbc (511 block number) in a 50 Ford. We have been having a hard time getting it to not run hot. Short trips around town are fine, but long summer freeway drives are out of the question.

He has a mechanical fan, with shroud and an electric pusher fan. Thermostat is new 180 degree, new cap, new coolant.

My first thought was to take the radiator and have it cleaned out, then replace the water pump and hope for the best. But then we discovered that there is oil in his water now, and he has oil leaking out the #8 spark plug (no water in the oil). That says blown head gasket to me.

At this point I think that he should replace the head gaskets, water pump, and have the radiator cleaned out. But that may not be enough.

So my questions are:

1. Will oil in the coolant make the radiator less efficient?
2. Can a blown head gasket make the motor run hotter? (not counting that it probably blew cause it got to hot anyway.)
3. Does anybody have any suggestions that I have not thought about?

Thanks!

 

What heads are you running? 350 heads will run hot unless you drill steam reliefs adjacent to the siameased cylinders.

 

They are stock heads I think. Not real sure.

 

What heads does he have on that motor??? And are they drilled for the steam holes... And how about the head gaskets??? Are those for a 400???

 

Makes a big difference. Need more details. Oil in coolant indicates blown head gasket. Why did it blow?

 

The car sat for 8 years and has just been back on the road for a couple months. Its hard to say exactly why they blew, but judging by the rest of the build quality, the guy who did the motor did it right. Unfortunately I don't have more info right now.

 

Well, the heads gotta come off anyway.. May as well take some photos and post them on here..

 

When you pull the heads off to change the
gaskets - check and make sure that gaskets
are the proper ones for a 400 SBC - ie - that
they have the two small "steam holes" in
them between each of the siamesed bores
- and also that the heads have matching holes
as well, that line up with the "steam holes" in
the gaskets. If either is missing - the holes in
the gaskets - or in the heads - that's probably
the cause of both your overheating and your
blown head gasket. If the heads don't have the
holes, when you buy the new gaskets, use them
as a template to drill the holes in the heads.
While you're at it too, I'd check the heads with
a straight edge to make sure that they aren't
warped and also very carefully visually inspect
the heads, using some dye penitrant and a
magnifying glass for cracks, particularly between
the valve seats.

Mart3406
==================

 

I ran a 400 in my 38 Chevy for several years. They will naturally run a little on the hotter side. Fix the problems you now have and I would recommend using Energy Release (ER) as an oil additive. It dropped mine from 220° to around 185°. I have been using it in everything from lawn mowers to my air compressor with amazing results. No I'm not a salesman but ER was first introduced here in Boise about 20 years back.
http://www.energyrelease.com/products.asp?Family_ID=1

 

A man!!

 

I'd say fix the head gaskets and ditch the electric pusher fan. The fan in front of the radiator will block air at freeway speeds. Does your buddy have air conditioning?

 

what he said

 

Thanks for the info guys. No he does not have AC.