ERA Build Questions Continue

[SSSammy]

Got it, Chappy .. thanks for the tip! I missed the part about having the engine running. Wondering if this same process applies to the radiator bleed valve?

Running about 1/3 antifreeze to 2/3 distilled water, plus a bottle of Red Line Water Wetter.

Sam

Originally Posted by Chaplin

Sam-
As for the overheating, I bet you have some air trapped in the manifold. I'm not sure if you tried this, but it worked on my car, either jack up the front of the car so that the front of the engine is higher than the back or park on a steep hill with the engine facing up hill and, with the car running, crack open the water temp fitting on the manifold and let all the air purge out until you get nothing but antifreeze out of that fitting. You might have to do it a couple of times to get all the air out.

[Chaplin]

You could do the radiator fitting that way as well, can't hurt.

I run 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water with a 180 t-stat drilled per Bob's instruction and have never had my temp go above 185 or so, even after idling or slow moving traffic. Unless the timing is off or something else is screwy, once you purge all of the air out, you should not have any trouble keeping it cool even without the Water Wetter.

[Jim Holden]

SSS:

Is your radiator bleed fitting connected via a small hose to your expansion tank?

Do you have a heater? This too needs to be bled.


Jim

PS: ...and has the faint smell of the Italian sausage grinder finally dissipated from behind the rear seat panel?

[SSSammy]

Jim, no .. I didn't get the bleed hose. Doug seemed to think it was unnecessary. No heater .. we don't need them in TX

I was asking about the spring because the manual mentions the lower coolant hose can collapse at speed without one. One of my symptoms is that it runs 210-220 deg at a steady 60 mph, but if I drive more briskly, the temp *immediately* goes up to 230 deg. Even during a hard acceleration away from a stop light.

At least today it didn't blow coolant out the overflow hose

Also need to change the springs in the MSD mechanical advance distributor from the stock ones, I think. The distr is set up for a heavier car by the factory. And recheck timing.

I suppose the t-stat could be defective

All just things I'm looking at ...

Sam

[cobred]

You should not have to bleed anything, on an ERA the coolant tank is the highest point of the cooling system and once the stat opens all the air should be gone. If the timing is retarded that could be one reason for running hot. One other thing, make sure the fan is turning the correct way.