Still running hot. Tried EVERYTHING

[MAXIMUSPRIME]

Hey guys,
I have been getting a lot of good info from this forum,but this time I am stumped.

I got an 86 ranger stx 2.9l v6 for what I thought was a bargain. When it started to overheat on the way home, I began to realize that I had made a mistake but being the stubborn person that I am, I decided it wasn't going to beat me and I would get it fixed.


I replaced the fan clutch, water pump, radiator, and thermostat before finally taking it to a radiator shop where they told me the bad news. It was the head gasket. Over the last few weeks, I replaced the heads and gaskets with brand new castings, valves, springs, seals, and got it all back together and running again. So far so good until this morning when the gauge went to "N" again!

I cannot think of what it could be! It seems like I have done everything.

My suspicions are:
1. got a bad thermostat
2. My timing is at 12 degrees advanced (I know it should be 10, but the distributer was touchy and I said close enough)
3. Maybe a hose is collapsing
4. My truck is possessed by the devil and wants me to turn to the dark side.

You guys have any suggestions?

 

[camobancher88]

Mine does the same...

So with my truck my stock POS gauge said i was runiing really hot... started repalcing things like water pump fan etc... Come to fine out the stock gauge very false on giving a good reading... so i went to napa and bought a 30 dollar water temp gauge threaded in to stock coolent temp sender and see that i was probaly never over heading... just a false gauge... Get a aftermarket gauge and see what happens!
Good Luck

 

[dangerranger83]

I agree, get an after market one.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[adsm08]

The temp gauge is an idiot light. Put a sensor in it, make sure the coolant is topped off, and see what happens.

Postin' from teh Galaxy

 

[MAXIMUSPRIME]

Now that is the best news I have heard in a while. Going to try that immediately. Any suggestions or is the regular cheap Advance Auto parts model good enough?

 

[MAXIMUSPRIME]

Is this the one?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...-260f?itemIdentifier=204422&_requestid=267831

 

[camobancher88]

That's the same one I got man! There should be universal fitting on the end with the prob.. You need a 3/8 thread to fit where to stock coolet temp sensor thread her in and see what temp you get...
Good luck

 

[MAXIMUSPRIME]

Sweet. Going to get it tonight. I'll let you guys now how it goes.

 

[n_grimm]

I went thru something similar on my 88 B2. Turned out the radiator was plugged up on the outside. Wasn't until I removed the ac condenser that I was able to see it.

 

[MAXIMUSPRIME]

Well, I got the gauge and installed it last night, and so far it appears that the cooling system is doing it's job perfectly. Now I'm stuck wondering if I did a whole head gasket and top end rebuild for nothing

Either way, I am glad that i can say I've done a HG job (or at least that's what I'll keep telling myself)

Thanks for the tips. Hoping to post a build thread as I slowly restore this thing.