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Posted by Wayneh [68.55.55.71] on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 16:51:26 :
When I bought my '56 Power Wagon last month, the previous owner said it over heated. So Friday I removed the radiator and cowl assembly and cleaned the radiator (that had been recored) with muriotic acid and flushed the block as best possible. I also remoed the water pump and cleaned the water distribution tube. That was plugged up towards the back end. No question about it.
I installed a NAPA coolant filter, put the hole thing back together, and put some water in.
Water comes GUSHING out the top of the water pump between the backing plate and the block like I didn't put any aviation gasket sealer or gasket in... I was not amused and my wife learned more bad words.
I cut a new gasket out of some cork like gasket maker and put (sorry...) black silicone sealer on both sides.
Today put water in it and it did not leak.
Now the fun starts. I started it up and drove it around, the temperature gauge barely moved. I then installed the thermostat, and now the temperature reads between the "E and A" in HEAT. Awesome.
Then I plumbed the heater back in. I was dubious that this would do anything since the opening in the floor panel for the shift levers is bigger than the output for the heater... but it seemed to work fine.
Then I drove around Davidsonville for at least an hour, and frankly had fun.
I did run into a Power Wagon Ambulance in Crofton Maryland. It was parked in a parking lot and it said "Marty's Mowing" on it. I'll call Marty to say hello soon.
That's my update for today, now for some fun. Too bad the weather man changed his mind and it is not going to snow after all...
Wayne
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