air flaps, how to verify position of right flap Options

[luskesq]

After working through a number of issues with my ’70 1.7 F.I., it is running great. I have a concern however with regard to whether it is running too hot. My weather right now in the Central Valley of CA (with the exception of rain today) is in the mid-90’s and breaking the century mark is not an unusual event. After idling for maybe 5 minutes and taking a moderate 2 mile run, when I shut it off it seems like the engine is putting out an inordinate amount of radiant heat. Timing I believe is spot on and there are no apparent rags, leaves, debris, etc. floating around under the tins.

I have not inspected yet but suspect the thermostat is not functioning. If I understand from reading various threads however, and although there are conflicting opinions, there should be no problem if the thermostat fails because the cooling flaps are supposed to end up in a default position as if the engine is already warmed up. Meaning the left flap is up and the right flap is down to pull air through the oil cooler. I have confirmed (by touch reaching through spark plug access hole) that the left flap is up (vertical). I am assuming (I understand the caveat) that the right flap is down in the proper position. How can I confirm that the flap is down short of removing the tin? I tried a mirror into the #4 plug hole (after pulling out a Bosch plug that the PO left there, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) but couldn’t see anything.

Sorry for being long-winded. Any help will be appreciated.

Keith

[wingnut86]

...I just pulled a 1.7 apart to find that the left side flap (as facing the engine from the front) was re-installed wrong by the PO or someone at some point.

The stuck the damn flap under the tin lip somehow and it never moved (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

So, use the KISS method here as well.

I'm sure your PO was much smarter than mine.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

The stuck the damn flap under the tin lip somehow and it never moved (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

I'm sure your PO was much smarter than mine.

I did that to my own car. Its not hard to do, especially if you are moving tin around with the engine in the car. I am pretty sure I pinched mine when I pulled the doghouse with the engine in the car, and then tried to wiggle it back into place.

The cable is hooked up but I am making that assumption (thermo failure) because the flap on the left is in verticle position when cold.

Which left side? Left and right depends on where you are looking from. Please say drivers side or passenger side. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

On the drivers side, it should be vertical when the engine is cold - its correct. The flap is blocking airflow from the fan. As the thermostat expands, the spring on the flap axle opens the flaps. When the flap opens it swings UP.

On the pass side the flap does not fully close when cold. It opens DOWN and creates a forced air guide for the oil cooler.

Either way, neither of them should be horizontal when the engine is cold, though the passenger side flap tends to be sort of diagonal when cold - at least on my car.

Zach