[DeTomaso] head drilling for air release

Thu Sep 3 11:23:06 EDT 2009

Asa,
If overheating is THE problem, then running without anything in the
thermostat's location isn't going to help much IMHO.  I had the same problem
many years ago with my 1970 Mach 1 with a 351C when I went to the drag strip
and had major overheating problems.  I thought that pulling it out would
solve the problem and a kindly old racer ( probably my age now ) came over
when I was standing there cussing at a steaming car and explained to me that
by pulling it out and letting the water just run through didn't allow the
water to remain in the radiator long enough to get much cooler.  He's the
one that turned me onto those big Gold washer looking things sold by Mr.
Gasket ( in a three pack as I recall of various hole sizes ) that
were restrictors made to replace the thermostat and only allow so much water
to get into the radiator ( thus I imagine creating some back pressure ) but
by slowing the incoming volume going in at the top did allow the water to
stay a little longer inside the cooling fins and thus get a little cooler.
 I'm no thermodynamic engineer, but it worked.  After I install those, it
never overheated again and that car in those days was also my daily driver
and I left the rings in until winter when a thermostats needed to
be reinstalled ( because NC in the winter does get cold ).

Michael Shortt

On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:03 AM, Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com> wrote:

> Chris, I appreciate the offer.  If needed, I have a Harbor Freight near
> me.  I really need to get the thermostat out and check it.  I'll then
> reseal the housing without a thermostat and run the car to see what
> happens.  (I'll also boil test the thermostat).  I don't believe my
> issue was a mongo-bubble holding up the fluid flow  (I'm a fan of
> drilling a hole in the thermostat to assist air bleed).
>
> Asa Jay
>
> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>
> & Shelley Marie
> Spokane, WA
>
> 1971 Mach I Mustang  [ASA JAY]
> 1973 Pantera L 5533  [ASASCAT]
>
> ******************************
> http://www.asajay.com
> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>
>
>
>
> Chris Difani wrote:
> > AJ:
> >
> > Do you want me to ship my vacuum radiator filling device to you?  It
> > uses shop air to generate a vacuum, it applies that vacuum to your
> > cooling system.  Then it uses that evacuated cooling system 'suction'
> > to fill the system with your coolant.  It's got a suction tube that
> > drops into your coolant container.  It's also supposed to 'dissolve'
> > air bubbles, etc., in the system.  Then you'd only have the thermostat
> > to worry about.
> >
> > If you want me to ship it, give me your address, and I'll get it out
> > Thursday afternoon.
> >
> > This is the Harbor Freight system that we discussed on the list a
> > month or two ago... or was it three months??
> >
> > The only requirement is you need a shop air compressor.  About a 2
> > horsepower size.
> >
> > Let me know,
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > Chris Difani
> > '73 L #5829 "LITNNG"
> > The Electric Pantera
> > Sacramento, CA
> > Email: cdifani at comcast.net
> >
> > _________________________________________________
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: <asajay at asajay.com>
> > To: <detomaso at realbig.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:02 AM
> > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] head drilling for air release
> >
> >
> >> I'm still flustered with that whole idea.
> >>
> >> I have a 351C installed in my Mach I.  I've never had any problems
> >> bleeding air from the system, getting it full of coolant, etc.  It
> >> doesn't have air bleeds at the back of the heads.  So doing a bit of
> >> Kepner-Tregoe analysis on this, what are the similarities and
> >> differences.
> >>
> >> The engine in the Mach I tilts in such a way the front of the engine
> >> is slightly higher than the back (I think), but in the Pantera, it's
> >> just the opposite.  So in the Pantera, I can see air getting trapped
> >> at the back of the head, but if you've managed to bleed the system
> >> properly, are they really necessary?
> >>
> >> Which makes me wonder why I would want to jack up the -back- of the
> >> car, when it seems to me I should be jacking up the -front-.  But then
> >> there is the radiator up front which could trap air.  In my case, I
> >> know the radiator was full, as I had a sight-hose connected to the
> >> upper corner to verify it was full.
> >>
> >> My brain hurts.
> >>
> >> Asa Jay
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Quoting Larry Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com>:
> >>
> >>> Is drilling the heads for air release, as Sean just wrote about,
> >>> something that could be done with them installed in a running car, as
> >>> opposed to something only done with heads off?
> >>>
> >>> I imagined drill shavings and thread-tapping shavings could easily be
> >>> an issue.  But I intend to replace my radiator this Winter, so having
> >>> shavings lodge in this current radiator is not really an issue.  And I
> >>> also currently have a Tefba coolant filter in place; its purpose being
> >>> to trap any free flowing trash prior to the new radiator install.
> >>>
> >>> I'm thinking now would be a good time to get those air bleed holes
> >>> installed in my engine?
> >>>
> >>> Larry
> >>> _______________________________________________
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-- 

Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia
www.michaelshortt.com
michael at michaelshortt.com
912-232-9390

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