trivia

[WACK]

IF ones 1978 Ford F-150 overheated on the freeway and one pulled over (immediately) and found a LARGE pool of ATF AND a LARGE pool of anti-freeze on the ground, whats the cause? Clue:when it cooled off and was topped off with water and transmission fluid it ran and shifted perfectly and didn't leak anymore. There seems to be no transmission fluid leaking from the obvious places, the coolant came from a small crack near the top of the radiator. I learned why this happened and it kinda surprised me...do all of you know why?

[Rebel]

my guess is, the ATF blew out the stick tube.

Had this happen running down the interstate,,cloud of smoke so thick behind me from the ATF hitting the headers I thought I was on fire, couldn't see any cars behind me,,pulled over and ran up the hill beside the highway to watch her burn. Never caught on fire but it did killed all the bugs for miles around.

[89AstroDan]

Answer: It's a Ford, they're suppose to do that.

[Rebel]

Answer: It's a Ford, they're suppose to do that.

=D>

[potskie]

my guess is, the ATF blew out the stick tube.

That would be my guess as well. I've had a 4L60 get hot enough that fluid was running / spraying out of the vent tube. Added a cooler and extended the tube out of pocket only to find out 3 years later that it was a recall as they made the tube too short at the factory.

[Smiliesafari]

WACK........You started a Ford thread? GET THE ROPE!!!!!!! [-X [-X

[Kidhauler]

#1 you had a cracked rad that is not good

#2 you probably are running slightly rich or had your foot on the gas just a little hard for the speed you were going causing the engine to build load up and build too much heat.

It would also help if you said what engine you were running in the truck as they had a straight 6 300cid a 3 different 351 V8s a 360 a 390 a 400 and a 460 avalible that year.

You also didn't say what trans you are running in the truck. They had 3 for those trucks a 3 on the tree standard a 4 on the floor standard and of course the c6 automatic.

If your going to start the game you need to give all the info. Most GM people don't realise that the ford used ATF in the power steering pump so you might have a power steering leak and not a cooked trans leaving red puddles on the ground. My guess is that your power steering pump seized up causing a heat build up and made all the bad stuff happen.

[WACK]

All good guesses and pretty close too. Ovrheated due to large hill and load, old radiator cap didn't vent, top seem on radiator cracked and dumped massive coolant. Trans cooler was no longer effective due to lack of fluid in radiator and (very quickly) built lots of heat in transmission causing fluid to come out the vent tube. You guys have proved your mechanical skillz....I was dumbfounded looking at all the pretty colors of truck blood alongside the highway...the oil dripping in the center of the 2 puddles was a nice touch and made for a trippy effect...but I already know why it drips a little oil...cause, as mentioned, its a Ford. Also, for the record, my boss swears up and down it is a 302 but I think its a 351, I just got it and havent even really looked it over yet. It is a c6 auto. PS=I promise I will give the GMC more attention than the Ford.

[Kidhauler]

78 could have the 302 in it if you look on the drivers side valve cover it should have the engine size and model listed. If you look at my post it did say you loaded up and over heated by having your foot a little hard on the gas causing it too build heat. If your running a 302 or a 351 let it slow down on the hills a fair bit. I have a 400 in my 73 and it will blow over any hill at any speed you want it just depends on how much you want to spend.