[Fang Bit]

I am going to try and start my engine soon and was wondering about getting the water into the block. The block has no water in it right now. If I fill the radiator, this still leaves the block without water during initial startup. Is it possible to fill the enitre cooling passages with water prior to fire up? If I try to fill through the temp sensor hole, will it fill up enough so that the block is entirely full, or at least close enough that I wont damage anything? Or, is there another method I am not aware of that I should follow? Someone gave me a good idea about a Tic-Tac between the thermostat, but it is a little late for that now.

 

[65 Cobra Dude]

Skippy,

The way I did it was to pull the upper radiator hose off of the thermostat hosing and filled through the hose. You'll know when it is full because it will come up through the thermsotat and the upper hose will fill. It worked for me. Now, if you have a radiator tee in the upper radiator hose, it will de the same thing.

Henry

 

[2savage]

There is a method I've used on other cars to good effect that may work here too. (I'm still at the build stage though so others will have to confirm that it will work.

1) Fill the radiator as much as you can.

2) Rapidly 'pump' the fat rubber tubing to cause water to get into the engine and air to 'burp' out of the block.

3) Repeat until the water level in the radiator does not go down any more

This will get the block full enough for your first start. After the start and running the engine for 30 seconds, shut down and repeat the process. (At this time check oil level too since you will now have filled the filter).

There are probably other ways of doing this but this has always worked for me.

[ December 18, 2002, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: 2savage ]

 

[Roscoe]

If the radiator fill opening is not the highest point, you will have air in the block.

Many place a filler in the hose between the block and the radiator which simplifies the whole process.

Make sure the bleeder hole in the thermostat is at twelve o'clock.

Watch your gauges as you warm up the engine.

I also placed an air bleeder in the intake manifold.

Roscoe

[ December 18, 2002, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Roscoe ]

 

[Marc A]

I fill the block through the heater hose fitting on the manifold.
Marc A

 

[Fang Bit]

I do have a T-filler between the radiator and water neck, but since the thermostat is closed, am I right to assume that using the filler would only fill the radiator? I guess the better question would be, does the water pump create a vacuum and pull water in from the lower radiator hose if the block was not completly full? I have never put much thought to it before, but if the thermostat is closed, water cannot be pushed through the radiator to cycle the water. If no water is be cycled, does it at minimum pull water from the radiator if more water is needed? Is the water pump a puller or a pusher?

 

[2savage]

Thermostats never completely close. They do however restrict the water flow.

 

[65 Cobra Dude]

Skippy,

The water will flow through the thermostat through the bleeder hole that Roscoe mentions. It is a slow process but works to fill the block and radiator and gets most of the air out because it is filling the block from the bottom up. Just need to make sure that the tee is higher than the thermostat housing. Water pump is a puller but obviously only when the engine is running.

Henry

 

[pan61]

I always fill the oil filter before installing it. Even during normal oil changes.If the oil filter is at an angle, fill it as full as you can. And always-always prime a new engine before start-up

 

[Jack ffr1846]

If you're filling through the T-filler, also loosen the radiator cap. I found that I couldn't get much in until doing this, then the pressure was released and I was able to completely fill it.