47-55.1 1950 cooling problem

[BALB]

'50 pickup, rebuilt 235, 3-speed, new radiator. Temp gauge keeps crawling to hotter range when I am at a stop sign, with engine running, and it cools off again once I drive off. Do I need an electric helper fan for cooling the radiator...any suggestions are welcome to fix this problem.

[DennyB]

Electric fans are great but you shouldnt need it with that 6 cyl. You didnt mention any modifications, so heres a couple of things to check:
1) did you flush the engine when you put the new radiator in?
2) What type of shroud do you have? You need one thats fits correctly for it to work proprely.
3) Does the new radiator have as many rows as the orig.?
4) What type of fan are you running? If its a direct drive then that should be fine or get one with more blades. If its a clutch fan (much better than a direct drive...frees up HP..suggest a thermostatically controlled one if you go this route)check the clutch.

Good luck and let how ya made out.

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Toms River NJ
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71 custom 20 - 307 3onthetree-bone stock
56 working Street rod (under construction)
92 Olds 98 land yhat..(wifes)
20 ft. long hole in water in which i throw my money

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[Sentimental_49]

Hey BALB, just a curious question. Not to be a smart A** but is the radiator completely full of antifreeze. It sounds similar to the problem I had with my Ranger. Does the temp guage rise when you are accelerating from a stop and then cool off? or does it just get hot at a stop and cool as air moves through?

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'49 3100 5 window Chevy