Coolant System Upkeep

[noKYspider]

I'm getting ready to go change the hoses on my coolant system since they've been leaking. Remember this car had been sitting for 7 years before a month ago so some things need to be upgraded/replaced. I'm also planning on changing the oil and filter if the coolant system doesn't give me too much trouble. Wish me luck!

Just out of curiosity, how much antifreeze should I need? Will a gallon of antifreeze and filling the rest with water suffice?

[velozi]

Doing the same thing to my 76 this weekend. Have a new rad to install so I am cleaning and replacing everything I see. Capacity is around 7.5 liters. I always premix first but that its just a personal thing.

[manoa matt]

If you buy the 50/50 premixed 2 gallons will do, you may need some additional water in the overflow bottle. Get a prestone flush kit that includes the "t" fitting and install it in the heater hose that goes to the rear coolant port in the valley of the cylinder head, it will make filling the system easier without air bubbles.

[TX82FIAT]

I know this is some basic stuff. but if it has been sitting for a while (7 years) make sure you open up the heater valve and drain from the rad as well as from the bottom of the block on the passenger side. Flush the system for a good amount of time with a garden hose stuck in top of rad. Let it sit and drain for a little and then flush the system again. Then fill her up with the premixed 50/50 slowly. she is going to take more than you think. You may need to burp her a few times. give some consideration to the T-Stat mod metioned on other posts to eliminate the air bubble that forms under the thermostat. There are a ton of posts on this. Seriously, some folks blow through this easy. I've seen other times when it takes a lot of effort to clean the system and get all the air out. I was helping a friend burp his 79 and it took all day to burp the system with the car parked on a steap hill front side up and with the T fill installed and thermostat hole drilled. On my car it has always been a pretty simple process. Good luck.

[manoa matt]

I'm not a fan of the T-stat mod, its basically like having the stat stuck partially open which makes warmup take even longer.

You can achieve the same/better result by filling up the system as normal then loosening the clamp where the lower hose connects to the bottom port of the stat and stick a flat blade screw driver between the hose and stat to allow the air out. When coolant comes out remove the screwdriver and tighten the clamp.

[rlux4]

Them's fightin' words pardner!
If we were on debate teams it would be my turn to support the affirmative.
I don't think that the small hole drilled in a stat would be the same as a partially open stat, the opening would be around the entire circumfrence of the stat and let a lot more coolant by than a small hole does. Secondly, the loosen the hose clamp and slip a screw driver in to let air out does work, I don't think it would work better though, They both accomplish the same thing. Plus the hole in the stat doesn't spill any coolant that needs to be cleaned up, which I'm sure happens with the screwdriver method. And thirdly (is thirdly a word?) I don't notice any appreciable difference in warm up time, I'm 1/4 mile from the corner where I usually make a turn and by then it's already well on it's way to operating temperature.
I started using the hole in the stat method after having an ongoing experience like TX82FIAT, I was having the devil's own time burping my system and since the mod I haven't even had to do any burping and the car maintains 185-190 all the time, even out here in 100+° weather.
Ron

[Zippy]

I didn't want to drill such a big hole in mine either, but after fighting with it for a year I gave in. I used the smallest bit I could find, probably less than 1/6". It is large enough to get the job done and has no effect on how long it takes to warm up.