429 running hot

I have just purchased a restored 1971 429 with ram air. It has a Griffin radiator & runs very cool in the open but the original gauge indicates hot in traffic, engine also idles rough when hot, any ideas? Regards Brent (Queensland Australia)  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

Hi Brent,
 Two things come to mind.
First- Does your car have a fan shroud? These are used just for this purpose, to keep air moving across the radiator during idle.
Second- You may want to upgrade your water pump to a high performance one.
The rough idle while hot might be from the fuel getting too hot while you're in traffic.
If 'MechanicalGuy' reads this he may have some ideas as well. Regards, MB.  

Thanks MB
The shroud is fitted, the car is going to a high performance mechanic this week, the fact that the temp changes so quickly, may suggest the water pump, also the car has been in various collections the past few years,so corrosion may be a factor?I will post the results. Brent  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

The verdict from the mechanic re running hot at idle was the fan shroud has been cut away at the sides allowing most air to be pulled from ouside the radiator, so I'am looking for a new shroud? Also finding it hard to get?
Regards Brent  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

Just about all Mustang vendors have the shrouds.  Try NPD.  

Updateon this problem:
We have removed the Griffin radiator for professional cleaning.(aparently a lot of gunk)& hand made a lining to close up the gaps around the shroud, also fitted foam to the top of the radiator to close this gap.The thermostat was stuck in the open position, replaced the Griffin cap.THe car now runs cooler in traffic all but still a bit on the warm side.Do any readers know of a safe operating temperature range for a 429?
Cheers Brent  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

Temperature should run about 15 degrees or so more than the recommended thermostat opening temperature.  Conventional oil breaksdown at about 200.  

Thanks for your input, I would have thought oil would be subjected to higher operating temperatures than 200,would synthetics be higher?  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

Synthetic is much higher.  I personally would use a 15W50 or 15W40 synthetic.  Suggest a Pure or Pure One oil filter.  Make sure you do not have air in you cooling system.  Might try advancing timing as long as it does not make the engine ping.  

Since previous improvements I have also added Water Wetter, temperature is lower at low speed.  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

Thanks for the update Brent.
That's a nice looking car. Do you drive it much, with gas being so expensive down there.
What's a 429 get for mpg 12, 14?
MB  

You know Brent I suspect your heating problem is in large part due to the fact that the car sat for so many years. When a car sits like that the block develops scale deposits throughout the cooling system. These would normally be kept to a minimum in a car thats run consistently. As you drive the problem may get better, I suggest you flush it a couple of times at three month intervals or so. There are also some commercial products used for flushing that can help with the internal scaling problem. Hey they are old cars ,,, whatya gonna *** lol. Nice car Brent  

I don't know what that "Water Wetter" or "wetter water" chit has in it, but it works.  Just make sure you are positive you have bled off all the old air bubbles in the system.  It's called "Burping."  Which fan blade do you have?  A lot of guys have also gone with electric fans, but IMO that only puts a strain on the alternator and causes more drag, causing more heat from the engine.  That newly cleaned Griffin and repaired shroud with the Water Wetter should have cleared up the issue.  But, if not, then hire you a young lady to sit in your engine compartment with a Japanese hand fan and wave it back to cool.    

Thanks again guys for your suggestions. Yes the car is getting better with every drive & as we are in a mild winter the true test will be next summer, but I will do a couple of flushes in between.  
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr

UPDATE:
Have fitted a high torque starter motor,thermo fan with adjustment to temperature, also an auto trans cooler & a modern temperature gauge, also race coolant, had the carby tuned & the timing altered,all of above have contained the temperature to 200 in low gear traffic at an ambient outside temperature of 80 degrees. Any further ideas are welcome?
 
Brent
Qld Australia
71 Grande 429cjr