Engine Cooling

I have been rebuilding a 98 Cobra and have noticed the engine to become very warm. I have not tested temperature or would not know what to use. My radiator looks stock and perhaps I should replace it for being so old and get the new aluminum ones with the fans, they come one or two fans.

Can anyone tell me if it’s worth doing, trying to bring the temp down?

Thank you and enjoying working on the car, currently it’s in repairing the leather seats.

Bob
1998 Laser Red Mustang Cobra SVT Convertible

Bob, the first thing I'd recommend is a set of Aeroforce gauges and pillar to mount the dual setup in. The stock gauges are fake. With the aeroforce, you will know to the degree what your coolant and so much more. Second, a Reisch 170* thermostat. Consider a coolant flush and change. I migrated to the Ford Gold coolant as it lasts longer.

Huge thanks….coolant flush will do, Ford Gold Coolant because it lasts longer, also pick up a Reisch 170* Thermostat….big help, will do this next. The car is not being set up for track or racing, but want it ready, in case…….another 73 year old wants to beat me off the stop light….lol

Bob, the DOHC is notorious for being a pain to burp out all the air.

Be sure to FILL and burp the car through the coolant crossover tube.

BobL said:

Huge thanks….coolant flush will do, Ford Gold Coolant because it lasts longer, also pick up a Reisch 170* Thermostat….big help, will do this next. The car is not being set up for track or racing, but want it ready, in case…….another 73 year old wants to beat me off the stop light….lol

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Haha Get em!

Consider a JLT RAI or CAI kit for an easy HP mod.

98 svt said:

Bob, the DOHC is notorious for being a pain to burp out all the air.

Be sure to FILL and burp the car through the coolant crossover tube.

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Good point, if you don't want to deal with it, just take it to Ford.

98 svt said:

Bob, the DOHC is notorious for being a pain to burp out all the air.

Be sure to FILL and burp the car through the coolant crossover tube.

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Will do….thank you

If you get a new AL radiator, I suggest a mishimoto. They come with a brace that keeps them from flexing.

I bought a champion radiator that cracked at the corners due to flexing.

98 svt said:

Bob, the DOHC is notorious for being a pain to burp out all the air.

Be sure to FILL and burp the car through the coolant crossover tube.

Click to expand...

+1.
I actually have found the procedure listed in the SVT owner's manual to work quite well. As information, new crossover caps and cap O-rings are available if needed.

start simple before you throw a bunch of shit at it - get something to read actual coolant temps.

The aeroforce gauges are a good way to monitor things but you can also just get a cheap blue tooth OBD2 adapter from amazon and an app on your phone like the Torque App and see actual coolant temps. This will also give you a baseline to compare against when making changes and know if they actually helped or not.

In a stock mustang with the AC off (AC or heat defaults to high speed fan), low speed is probably around 208 and high in the mid 225-228 range for reference. If you start going north of that then I would be concerned.

if you do a coolant flush taking it somewhere with a machine or vacuum system might save some aggravation. With the stock coolant crossover/cooling system on my Mach it almost always took 3 burp cycles to fill it.