How to flush my 1952 blocks coolant passages?

[52Cadillac]

Walter It opened at 160.
Where would I purchase a vac advance for my car? Or can mine be repaired?
Thanks, Mike

Richard that would be interesting to know. For instance if running hot, would it be beneficial to adv or retard spark to make run cooler until problem is sorted out. Dunno.

[Walter Youshock]

I think Terrill Machine Shop in Texas can rebuild them.  No email or website come up on a search.  They usually advertise in OCW or Hemmings.  A replacement will be 60 years old and the diaphragm will probably be dry rotted.  You CAN rebuild them.  There was a thread on how to do it:  http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=119660.msg205204#msg205204

Generally, the differences in vacuum advances is the spring.  I did this rebuild on my '57 and it does work. 

[R Schroeder]

Good God.
You were running the car with the thermostat upside down ?
That will make it run hotter for sure. That's one problem out of the way.


Richard. Retarding the spark and running around like that just makes the car run warmer.
Advancing it to far can cause pinging. You don't want that either.
Best to set them up the way they are suppose to be, and run them that way.
Roy

[Jim Salmi #21340]

Per Hemmings:

Terrill Machine Inc.
1000 CR 454
DeLeon, TX  76444
PH:  254-893-2610

[Jim Salmi #21340]

BTW, I'm curious.  You didn't mention anything about vapor lock problems.  One would think that if it's running that hot, you would be breaking down.

My '52 seems to run cool as a cucumber.  Never more than about 1/3 off Cold, even on the hotest days.  But the car vapor locks even in sub-freezing temperatures.  I have solved it with an electric fuel pump.

[52Cadillac]

Walter, I'm going to get the vac adv off this week to be rebuilt. A fella offered me a used, but tested one for $56. I've declined.

Roy, yep thermostat was upside down, it appeared to be stuck shut and the heat riser closed. Drove her this weekend several times into town. Hard to start at first, but seems to be running just ok, better at higher speeds. The carb def needs fine tuning. However, still running hotter then she should. It's ok when driving but stopped at light for five min and gauge will go to 3/4 mark. Installed new sender last year it should be good. So basically I've the vac advance left, and to check passages in the block, as Walter mentioned earlier.

Jim, I would on occasion have a studder, like she was missing. Vapor lock wasn't an obvious issue for the car. I did recently install a phenolic spacer. I've had an elec fuel pump since I received the car. So that may be why. Thanks for the info.

[Walter Youshock]

Check the pressure of the electric fuel pump, too.  It may be putting out too much pressure, forcing fuel past the needles and seats in the carb...

[Jim Salmi #21340]

Good luck.  Keep us posted on your progress.