Thread: 23 T radiator help

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Hey guys.

Finally getting the 23T running and just about finished. It goes to the trim shop next week, which means if my wife can hold the baby back long enough....we might just make Goodguys the end of this month.

Here is the question.

It is running the thick brass 23 style radiator. It has a moto thermo gauge on top of the filler neck. There is no pressure cap or recovery tank. It has a tube that runs from the fill neck inside the radiator out to the bottom.

I filled the radiator nearly full and just had the car running for a little while.

It pukes coolant on the ground after it opens the t stat.

Is this normal? Will it puke until it reaches a level that it won't puke anymore??????????

Two things. It may puke a bit since there is expansion of the fluid when it gets hotter. If it stabilizes at, say, 1-2 inches down that would probably be okay. You should make sure that you "burp" the block, making sure that there isn't air trapped in the engine, there may be more room for coolant there. Keep an eye on the temp gauge.

Thanks Bob.

I jacked the nose of the car up high when I filled it, and made sure the block was full to the t stat first. I hope I have the air pockets out.

I did however fill the radiator up nearly even with that inner drain tube. I really didn't pay attention at the time as to what the tube was.

From what you are saying, it should run a couple of inches below that tube level to give room for expansion, etc.

I just wish that overflow tube had enough of a nipple on it to run a catch tank, but then again there is really no room for a catch tank, unless I mounted it in front of the radiator and made it look cool too.