[Fot] Coolant conundrum

[rocky spitfire4.com]

What Chris said, me too. Turned out my rad had most of its tubes plugged, only at least I didn't have to fix it at the track. Local radiator shop diagnosed it, and "rodded it out." That is, he took the top off and ran a rod through most of the tubes. Some were so plugged he could not get the rod through, but it was enough to fix the problem. This was actually the original radiator in my '64 Spitfire and then some 25-30 years old. I later replaced it with a lighter one for weight.

--Rocky Entriken

From: Fot <fot-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Chris Marx via Fot
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2023 2:17 AM
To: 'Anthony Parker' <solarant at hotmail.com>; 'FOT Triumph' <fot at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Coolant conundrum

Hi,

had this once on a fellow racer car.
Turned out a clogged radiator that closed few remaining open pipes on temperature.
We replaced the radiator on the track (someone brought a new one) and from that time never a problem again.

Cheers
Chris


From: Fot <fot-bounces at autox.team.net<mailto:fot-bounces at autox.team.net>> On Behalf Of Anthony Parker via Fot
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 5:03 PM
To: FOT Triumph <fot at autox.team.net<mailto:fot at autox.team.net>>
Subject: [Fot] Coolant conundrum

I'm having cooling problems.
Need help being convinced that I have to do what I don't want to do.

Brand new short block, same old head, water pump, and radiator.

Over three trials, the engine will run fine and warm up with radiator hoses and radiator warming properly. Then the hoses and radiator will cool and coolant temp will spike to 230+. Radiator cold with sky high coolant temps.

Two more clues, hoses seem to pressurize very quickly and when I opened the radiator cap this morning (after cooling all night) pressurized air and coolant shot everywhere.

No thermostat and I have confirmed three times that system is completely full

Seems I have combustion gases getting into coolant and then bubbles eventually removing pump prime.

Don't know what else it could be.

Given the apparent direction of the leak, is there any use in trying some "stop leak" product?

Is it time to pull the head again to look for warping or gasket leak?

I suppose it could be a cracked cylinder, but this block has been checked by two different trusted engine machinists.

Desperately trying to get to the RunOffs, Anthony.
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