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RADIATOR CAP

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fordhealey

Jedi Hopeful
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bought a radiator cap from NAPA that was supposed
to be the correct cap for my 3000.drove it around for a couple of days and it didn't seem
to be running hot. opened the hood(bonnet)and
noticed that the top tank had balooned slightly.
only thing i can figure is that the engine got
hot after i shut it off and the cap didn't open.
I got a stock 7lb cap from moss and put it on.seems to be OK. just had the radiator recored
or i would consider getting a new one.just something to think about. probibly safer to stick
with parts made for Healeys. if the tank would have blown,it would have gotten real expensive
real quick.
gregg
 
Very strange. Since the recore, is the filler neck still original, the overflow tube not plugged? The Napa # 703-1411 has always worked well for me.

Almost any radiator shop can pressure test a cap to see if it is working correctly.
D

[ 08-14-2003: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
 
dave
the NAPA cap i had on it was in a box marked
703-1411 but it seemed to fit awfully tight.
there is no marking on the cap other than 7Lb.
i didn't think to check the overflow. when i
took the napa cap off there was pressure in the
tank and the engine hadn't been run that day. the
tank and neck are original. the cap from Moss
went on a lot easier than the napa did. i didn't
notice any leaks in the solder joint in the top tank,but i'm not going to be really confident
until i've driven it long enough to get it hot.
there isn't a lot of distortion in the tank, but
you can tell it's bulged slightly.some of you guys know that i run a ford 289. it has a shroud,
flex fan,electric fan on the front and small
auxiliary radiator behind the grill that runs
directly to the block. i've been fighting minor
overheating problems,but had them licked until.
the radiator rebuild. maybe the shop put the
wrong cap on it after the rebuild!! gregg
 
"when i took the napa cap off there was pressure in the tank and the engine hadn't been run that day."

Gregg,
I think that the only way that could happen was if the pressure cap or overflow tube was blocked tight. The whole water expansion would have to be taken up in the radiator tanks & hoses swelling. If the cap was vented at all the pressure should have reduced to nothing after a day of sitting. I'll bet that you had some fat hoses also.

It might be that your filler neck ID is just a little smaller than most & that the pressure relief on that cap couldn't work. Certainly something for other users of the Napa cap should check. Be sure to check the overflow tube.
Thanks for the info.
D

[ 08-14-2003: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
 
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