My 1959 Lincoln Continental

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abcomatic

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"Grace,"as I call her is in the shop with radiator trouble. It is leaking at the top of the radiator in the "tank" as the repairman said. The hood opens backward so they may have to take the hood off to get to the radiator. I hope I don't have to buy a new radiator, good luck finding that.
Jerry, How do you find parts for your MoPar products? Sure would love to have a '59 Imperial, LaBaron, Southampton. Gary
 
The '59s have the 430 engine, so yes, there's an overflow tank at top front of the engine bay.  I don't see any reason why it couldn't be repaired in a similar manner to an actual radiator.  

 

We had a '64 Continental with basically the same 430, but we never had any radiator trouble.  Instead, it blew a freeze plug so we had them all replaced.  The hood was hinged at the front but I never had trouble accessing the radiator to check or replace hoses, etc.  If they need to remove the hood on your '59 it's probably a two-minute job, but it may require two men.  Be sure they replace/reinstall the overflow's drain hose.   On our car, without the hose to route water down below the engine, it could dump practically on top the distributor cap.

 

Really, if it's the overflow that's leaking you're still getting the necessary cooling from the radiator.   My experience with these engines ('64 and '65) has been that they run fairly cool.  Only on the hottest days driving for a significant distance uphill did the gauge's needle even come close to reaching mid range.

Overflow tanks used to be sold as after-market add-ons because the Continentals were an anomaly.  The vast majority of their contemporaries only had a radiator.

 

As captured in the shot below, the overflow tank (rectangular shape) can be seen at upper left (this is a '65):

 

161871_Engine_Web.jpg
 
HI Ralph

There is no overflow tank on the '59, just the radiator. We had a '63 Mercury and a '64 Ford when I was growing up; those models had the overflow tank that you are showing in the picture. Yes, the '59 has a 430 in her. She is 19 feet long and weighs about 5,250 lbs. No light weight at all. Thanks for the info. Ralph. Gary
 
Stan

It is beautiful, isn't it?  Yeah no, it's not my car.  I found the shot on line.  We sold our '64 about ten years ago.

 

Gary, I did come across one picture of a '60 and there was no overflow tank.  I thought it had been removed.  Maybe the tanks showed up with the new body style in '61.
 
Not that it's any help, but I had constant problems with the surge tank in my '64. Despite numerous attempts at resoldering the seam the pressurized system would blow a hole and coolant would spray over the distributor, stalling the car.

Even when the system was full, it overheated in traffic in hot weather. I've read since that many owners remove the two thermostats in the engine block (as far as I know this was the only car to use three thermostats, one in the normal location and two in the block.) Or it may have needed a new fan clutch, who knows.I really didn't have enough money to fix everything so had to sell it!

This place has used replacement upper radiator tanks for '59 Lincolns.

 
Yes, vintage Lincolns

are beautiful. From 1961 through 1969 they were unibody construction. Back to body on frame for 1970.
The Wixom plant is now gone. I recall the final car on it's roof, The last generation Thunderbird. The plant only ever assembled Lincolns and T-Birds.
 
The 1958-60 Lincolns were also assembled at Wixom and at the time were the largest unit body cars ever built. At least some car magazine said they were. The Airflow Imperials were not a true unit body, apparently.

Those York AC compressors were about as big and heavy as the whole 4 cyl engine on one of today's econoboxes!
 
Where to find parts...

As my 'handle' gives away, I am a Mopar man, and am not as familiar with where to find Ford/Lincoln/Mercury parts. But as Jerry said, ebay is a great source for finding car parts. On something like a hard to find radiator, a best source is often marque-specific clubs, or marque-specific or part-specific antique parts yards or suppliers. Check out listings in Hemmings magazine, it is probably the best single resource to find these parts sources. Good luck with your repair so that you can enjoy the car during the summer driving season!
 
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CURRENT RADIATOR REPAIRED....

....if it is an all metal one.

It is best, whenever possible, to have the original radiator cleaned, flow tested, and repaired. Most of the original radiators are copper and brass. Much more durable than the aluminum/plastic radiators in the aftermarket. One of those would not hold up in this car. These Lincolns did run "cool". On a 95 degree day, with A/C on, the temp gauge never hit the center mark.

I had a '63 and had the radiator repaired, as well as the overflow tank. I did have to remove the hood to remove the radiator, in order to get access separating the A/C Condenser from the Radiator. After repairing both, I never experienced any other Coolant leaks. One thing to remember with the old cars, is Never use any extended coolant, of any type, in them. Only use conventional Ethylene Glycol Coolant.

If you can find a repair shop that does Truck or Industrial Radiators, Gas tanks, etc., you should be able to have them repair your radiator. I use a local Industrial Radiator shop now to do any repairs on my Fury cooling system. They actually took the Original Radiator and converted it to 3 Rows from 2. Cleaned, flow tested and painted it. They reconditioned the fuel tank, as well.

Good luck with your repair. Feel free to write if you have any other questions.

Louis
 
Thanks guys for all of your helpful hints. I haven't heard back about the car, but a few days he told me when I took it in on Tues. I had a tooth extracted yesterday and am kind of Out of it. (How would you know the difference anyway)? lol
I'll keep you all informed. Thanks again, Gary
 
The photo from '64, '65, or'66

looks like it might be the Lorraine Ohio plant. I know they built Falcons there those years. It may have also been a distribution point for Lincolns, Mustangs, and Galaxies headed east.
It doesn't look like Wixom did, or the Rouge complex then, although the Rouge built Mustangs. Not sure what Edison NJ was assemblimg then. Mahwah NJ was building Fairlanes, and Comets.
I think Milpitas California was the west coast Mustang plant then.
St. Louis was full size Mercury's, maybe Ford's too.
Production moved around for the '69 models. Mavericks replaced falcons, and Comets moved to that platform as well, form mid size to compact. The Montego was the new mid size Merc.
I think Chicago was fill size Fords, and also Hapeville Ga. Louisville Ky, and Wayne Mi. trucks.
Upon new research yesterday, I learned I forgot that Wixom also hand assembled the latest generation of the Ford GT.
The St. Thomas Ontario plant opened in 1970 to produce the Pinto, and that is where the final fox platform Town Cars, Crown Vics, and Grand Marquis were built.
 
Good job Gary! That is a remarkably good price for having a radiator recored on any car, let alone a classic Lincoln. If this repair shop does other work besides radiators you have found a jewel. I love these old American cars from my childhood. They are so much fun to drive, ride in and just to admire. We will never see this kind of quality again.
Eddie
 
Pictures of Grace

If you type in google and then type in 1959 lincoln continental mark 4 there are all sorts of images there. Pictures of her are at the end of the 2nd and 3rd.rows. The same color and body style as that car is. the license number on those pictures is: AM 22-22. I cant find my pictures but my car is the exact same car. The color is called Sapphire. See you all later and thanks. Gary
 

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