Expert: jack bahm - 8/17/2009

Question
Thanks in advance, I have a completely rebuilt 53 with new water pump,  the crossover exhaust pipe has been wrapped with the heat protection material sold for performance cars,  If you don't know the crossover pipe crosses the front of the engine very close to the water jacket,  I am told originally the pipe had an asbestos coating from the factory.  Help  Thanks

Answer
I don't think that the hot cross over can put much heat into your cooling system.  It can cook things around it, but that is not the problem.  My guess is that you have a plugged radiator.  Assuming that the new pump is moving water through the system, it is probably a heat rejection problem in the rad.  The only things that can cause overheating is: engine timing, plugged rad, not enough water flow, not enough air flow, (or a rad that has a lot of paint on it restricting heat transfer.)  If your car runs good, has a new pump, the fan is doing it's job, and it is not a painted rad, then I would look hard at the rad itself.  Get it rodded out, not just flushed.  Make sure you are getting good flow through it.  
Good luck
jack