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I have a '39 Six that runs very good but has started pushing the water out of the Radiator at road speeds. At a fast idle there are no bubbles in the water flow but when reeved up to 2-3000 the water immediately blows out. If I have the cap on it just blows around the cap. I had the radiator Rodded out and have pulled the freeze plugs and power washed the block internally, the motor temp runs about 180 until it get's low on coolant. I pulled the head and put on a new head gasket and it all seems to have been sealing. I'm at a loss
Thanks

If it's not overheating, which it doesn't sound like it is, then I would think there is communication somewhere and combustion pressure is getting into your cooling system.

Maybe a warped head? Maybe a crack in the block?

Maybe you can use an air compressor and pressure up one cylinder at time (on compression stroke) and see if you get any air in your cooling system? Just spitballing.

Hope it's something simple!

Probably a bad head gasket. Or a cracked block, but let's hope for the best.

They have cheap chemical testers for exhaust gases in the coolant, but with symptoms this obvious, I would just start to dive in.

I would first re-torque your head bolts. Note any that are not at the correct torque, and by how much.

Retorquing the head is a good suggestion. I had to retorque my head several times on my 327 after putting a new head gasket on to get it to spec. And it doesn't cost anything to retorque your head! Even if it doesn't cure it, but makes it better, you will at least know you're on the right track.

Per this discussion, I went out and retorqued my head. I used 70 ftlbs. and found a couple of the front nuts turned about 1/4 turn before the wrench clicked, probably 5 of them in total. I also pulled the sparkplugs to see if any had discoloration but they all were the same. I'll order a new head gasket and try that but first, this coming week I'll put it back together and run it to see if it's any better. It hasn't mattered if the motor is hot or cold, it just started pushing out the water right away.

Quote:

Is there anything that you can think of that happened/changed between when the car was fine and when you first noticed this issue?

Are you certain that your water pump is working as it should? Sometimes a water pump will leak air into the system when the engine is running at higher RPM and this can cause water loss. Also be sure the radiator cap is functioning as it should, and that the thermostat is in place and working as it should. Beyond that, a few loose rust flakes or fragments of rubber from a deteriorated hose or out of the heater core can plug radiator tubes very quickly, and that can cause water to be displaced as well as overheating and perhaps air ingestion at the water pump seal. If the engine runs smoothly and the plugs look OK, I would check external items like the water pump, radiator cap, water pipes and hoses, etc, before pulling the head. Water should not escape at the radiator cap. It should escape out the overflow tube that runs down one side of the radiator. If you car has a pressurized system, the cap should hold the correct pressure. A head gasket leak that causes immediate water displacement upon starting could be expected to cause a distinct miss in one or two cylinders, and would likely allow water to hydro-lock the engine overnight by filling one or more cylinders with water. Excessive steam at the exhaust pipe would be another likely symptom of s substantial head gasket leak.

Not really, I had done a long drive (95 mi.) at the Salado Packard meet and with about 2 mi. to go the motor got hot and started spitting water. Since then I have only done a few very short drives with it but I wanted to get it going for some Winter Parade plans.

I don't have a thermostat in this motor, it has shutters but someone else told me that I should use a Thermostat in the neck housing. What would be correct?

I believe it should have a thermostat at the water outlet. Lack of one can cause issues. I would install the correct thermostat and be sure the radiator cap is the correct one and is working properly. Loosen the fan belt and try to wiggle a fan blade toward and away from the radiator with hand pressure. If it has any movement, the water pump may have worn bearings and could be leaking air into the system. Lack of a thermostat and/or a defective radiator cap would aggravate any tendency to ingest air.