72 Slant Six running too cold
FIRST thing I'd do is figure out whether the engine is really running up to temp. You can do this by buying a probe style A/C thermometer, just tape it near the rad top inlet, and wrap and tape a rag around it for quick insulation
(like one of these, or digital. They're cheap)
I would bet (you say the top hose is "hot") that the engine is not as cold as you think, but rather the gauge is wrong.
Now, how about the heater? Are both hoses good and hot? If not you may have a bad water pump, or as mentioned, rust, etc, in the path to the heater core, or right in the block outlet/ inlets.
I would not think that in the area of the country you are in, that cardboard over the radiator would be necessary. Up here in N Idaho, yes, sometimes.
FIRST thing I'd do is figure out whether the engine is really running up to temp. You can do this by buying a probe style A/C thermometer, just tape it near the rad top inlet, and wrap and tape a rag around it for quick insulation
(like one of these, or digital. They're cheap)
I would bet (you say the top hose is "hot") that the engine is not as cold as you think, but rather the gauge is wrong.
Now, how about the heater? Are both hoses good and hot? If not you may have a bad water pump, or as mentioned, rust, etc, in the path to the heater core, or right in the block outlet/ inlets.
I would not think that in the area of the country you are in, that cardboard over the radiator would be necessary. Up here in N Idaho, yes, sometimes.