Thread: rad. setup q's

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I just got my radiator and the lower outlet is very close to the water pump lower inlet. Here are pics.
Will a super hard 90 degree tube work ok, or should I cut the water pump a little bit.
Also, my heater inlet and outlets are up pretty high on the firewall. Will it matter if the heater is not full of coolant when I start the engine, or will it just displace the air. This leads to my next question, how are you supposed to fill the cooling system for the first time? Do I just pour coolant into the radiator cap until it is full and then start it, or is there some procedure to get air out of the system?
Also, how should the overflow container be setup, can I just stick a tube on the radiator connection and run that into a container? How does coolant get back into the rad. from the container when it needs it then?
ok, that outta do it.

other angle

Man this makes my head hurt, seriously not being able to see it all I will take a stab here. Try a formed 90 hose for the rad, u wont get much flex but keep a eye on it and see how it cooperates. On the coolant i always mix it 50/50 before I put it in pour it in but leave room at the top of the rad. so u can let the engine run and warm up when the thermosat opens " udo have one dont u" the level will drop and u can pour enough in to see it flowing. Then put the cap on make sure the overflow is half full. Then turn it off, and as it cools the air will burp out as the coolant is siphoned from the overflow. All u need to do now is keep enough coolant in the overflow. Simple right?

so for the overflow can, does the one tube that connects right under the cap just go into the can and sit on the bottom. Will that dump coolant into the can AND pull it back out when needed?
Does the can need to be at a certain level in relation to the cap?

Originally posted by tcodi
so for the overflow can, does the one tube that connects right under the cap just go into the can and sit on the bottom. Will that dump coolant into the can AND pull it back out when needed?
Does the can need to be at a certain level in relation to the cap?

Yup.........that's the one, just hook it up. Try to mount the puke can at least half way to the center height of the radiator....this makes it a little easyer for the radiator to suck it back in, rather than mounting it real low.
N/N

The problem with your heater lines being higher than the top tank of the radiator can be cured by putting in an air bleed valve near the fire wall in your outlet hose,,,you can use this to bleed air from the cooling system,,,,also,,,if you install two screw capped tee's,,,one on each of the heater lines(near the fire wall) you can begin by putting your antifreez full strength into your radiator,,,then put a garden hose on one of the heater line tee's and open the other tee,,,,then fill slowly,,,this will insure that you are filling from the highest point,,,and you won't get big air pockets in your cooling system,,,,,just shut the water off when you see coolant(antifreez) coming out of the other heater line TEE.
As to your question about the overflow bucket giving back it's coolant to the radiator,,,,,,think of it this way,,,,,as the coolant heats up,,,it expands,,,,and as it cools,,it contracts,,,,so in a sealed system,,,,as your engine cools down, the water as it cools in your system will create vaccume,,and pull the coolant back from the overflow tank.

thanks for all the tips guys
I'm gonna get starting plumbing tonight

OK, I got most of my stuff, except I can't find a super hard 90 degree bend that will work for the lower hose. The water pump neck is 2" OD and the radiator part is 1 3/4" od.
I just spent about an hour searching through the hose rack at 2 auto parts stores and there is nothing with the correct size ends.
Any suggestions?
Could I maybe put two layers of hose on the radiator to make it the same size as the pump?