460 Big block overheating.
 

I just recently replaced the engine in my 1986 E-250 with a 460. I haven’t driven it very hard or more than 100 miles since the swap. I just had it overheat(I just happened to pull into a gas station and shut it off. Figured out that it has overheated once I could get it to crank very quickly. The coolant level has remained, many of ky gauges don’t work(temp gauge seems accurate and showed to be running at a higher temp), I believe that the fan engages when it needs to. Not sure what could be going on or where to really even start. Thanks in advance my friends 👍🏻

Did you replace the thermostat while you had it apart?\

Sadly not. What all does the thermostat control? I did find that my intake manifold had an old seal that had broken and left a decent sized hole. I plugged the hole and am hoping that it might help.

When the engine reaches a particular temperature (depending on thermostat temp), the thermostat is supposed to open and allow coolant to circulate and get cooled via radiator.

If it is stuck closed , can result in overheating.
There are different temp thermostats available , ie. 180 degrees and 195 degrees F/. That number is the temp it is supposed to open.

Each time I turned it on the temp gauge was immediately about 3/4 of the way up.I replaced the thermostat and it fixed that issue. Drove it maybe 10-15 mins and it died on the freeway. Threw it in neutral and as I was coasting I heard a loud pop. The radiator was steaming and there was a little steam coming out of the valve cover.
I ended up having it towed to a shop to see what they can find out. They’d know better than my self if the engine is now shot. I did fire it up once we got the mechanics and it fired up with no problem. It made a little bit of an odd noise but I didn’t hear any knocking. Crossing my fingers at this point that I blew a head gasket and maybe the radiator rather than the engine itself.

I just purchased a '93 F-250 with a 460 motor. at the point when I test drove it ran out well - no issues. Following a day, I unexpectedly have an overheating issue. I supplanted the fan grip and the indoor regulator, however it actually overheats. Does this mean waterpump? Any ideas?




192.168.100.1 192.168.1.1

It could, but not always likely. Thermostats usually cause that problem when they don't open as required .

If we either remove the thermostat and check it in a pan of boiling water , we should see it open, but if you are going to go through all that trouble ,you might as well just install a new thermostat in it's place, plus, with some you will need a new gasket or sealing ring , as they are not all the same.


If after you replace the thermostat the problem is still present, we could suspect the water p[ump. Some are easy to replace and some are best left to the pros.

If you were to remove the cap from the radiator while the engine is cold, leave it off , then start the engine . If you look in the radiator you will see the coolant sitting pretty still. As the engine warms up and the thermostat opens, you will definitely see coolant circulating. That will verify the water pump is working. Radiators become clogged too, and can also cause overheating.If coolant is not replaced as suggested in the owner's manual, it can lose some of it's properties and permit some corrosion.

Things like this are best handled by a competent shop. If not careful one could get burned by the hot coolant.