Hello everyone, I'm new here so first off let me give you a little info about me - I'm 27 and live in Seattle, I love old American cars. Unfortunatley I grew up with out any exposure to auto mechanics and I'm basically starting from scratch, I don't know anything about this stuff. but I'm trying to learn. Any way, I bought a 1963 2-door Ford Fairlane 500. It has a 221 V-8. Which I hear is unusually small for a V-8 but I did some research on the vin and it's correct. So on to my problem. I have a friend who's working on it for me just to get it on the road. We thought it was all ready but when we started her up we got only got a few miles before steam started coming out of the hood. So we found that the bottom radiator hose was bad - got a new one put it in but it's still overheating. The radiator is new and it's been flushed a bunch of times. The waterpump is brand new. It just seems that the water/coolant is not flowing through the block? He said the only things he can some up with at this point is A. someone put the head gaskets on wrong or B. The block has gunk in it. The car was sitting for a long time before I got it so when we flush it, ti still comes out rusty. He's looking into it but I'd though I'd ask all you pro's here, sooner we figure it out the better. Thanks for cheking this out and for any help! - Joshua

The SBF was made in a 221 cube configuration, in 62 and 63. The 221, while not exactly a barn burner for power, did have a fair reputation for good gas mileage, but was replaced by the 200 cubic inch 6 cylinder, as an economy engein. The 221 is essentially the same block as was the 255, 260, 289, and 302, however, with larger bores cast into them.
The 221,260, and pre 66 289's were all made to use a 5 bolt bellhousing vs the 6 bolt which was used from 66 on.
One thing of note, just about any part you can find to build a 289 or a 302 will fit on your 221 as well, and they do respond well to hopping up.
Up until the late 40's, most of Fords Flathead V-8's were of that displacement as well. An interesting point since the 221 SBF put out almost double the HP of the Flathead 221's, from the factory.
Im wondering about your thermostat, either being worn out or froze up, since you didnt mention that.
If you are still having a gunk problem in the engine, I recommend flushing it with Duponts #7 Radiator flush. Its a two part kit, and Ive had extremely good luck with it.
The possibility of a head gasket being put on with the wrong end to the rear, is a possibility, as thats been known to happen before. The mind set is to put the gaskets on with the same side of the gasket up, and to do it proplerly, one gasket has to be put on "upside down".
Check your timing as well. You should be running at least 8 degrees initial advance, and preferably about 10 degrees.

Replace the thermostat/gasket. After its been running check the bottom hose and top hose for heat comparison. Also, make sure and burp the cooling system. Air pockets develope when you replace coolant and empty/refill components of the cooling system. I've seen my temp drop 20+ degrees after burping out the system properly. Your not getting an oil in the water or viceversa are you? Not running super lean are you?

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1997 BMW M3 - 3.2litre Inline 6 cylinder

Max - thanks for the engine info - good to know the 289 and 302 parts will work on mine. My buddy is looking into the head gasket possiblity. Also I'll ask him about the thermostat as you and Siggy both mentioned it. Siggy - thanks for your info too, he said he spent a whole day flushing it - must have been pretty bad because rust is still coming out - and we did burp it. I'll also ask him about the oil/water too. I don't knwo if I'm running super lean or not (enter auto ignorance) I don't know what that means. Thanks a ton for the info guys, that thermostat looks worth checking into. Man, this site is great!

Running a lean air/fuel mixture (meaning less fuel than is optimal) can cause the engine to heat up excessively.

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1997 BMW M3 - 3.2litre Inline 6 cylinder

Is there a shroud around your fan?

Ghetto Jet, good point. Sometimes we tend to overlook some of the more obvious things in search of the more difficult.
And Jack, youre quite welcome.

Ghetto - no, no shroud on the fan. We actually made sure the fan wasn't on backwards! As far as runnin lean, Siggy, he did metion that the carb was acting fickle, I'm not sure how it works but doesn't the carb regulate the amount fuel the engine is getting.. er is that just adjusted to regulate the idle? sorry, I'm trying to learn... thanks again guys

No shroud around the fan will cause it to run hot. The shroud funnels the air thru the radiator to cool the water. So before pulling heads or anything like that, get a shroud and replace the thermostat with a correct one for that engine. Fix the simplest first.

Kevin

That makes sense. Max here said that all the parts for a 289 would work on a 221 - would that apply to the thermastat as well? because if he has replaced it that's what he used - should work right? I'll get to findin a shroud too.
thanks again

If he replaced it I would imagine he replaced it with a new one. They are only 5-10 bucks a piece and unless I HAD to, I wouldn't use a used one (unless I first verified it still worked via boiling it on the stove).

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1997 BMW M3 - 3.2litre Inline 6 cylinder

That is one item, to the best of my knowledge, they never changed on the SBF, from the date of conception at leat til the roller cam blocks.