[DeTomaso] head drilling for air release

Thu Sep 3 11:29:34 EDT 2009

Michael, I agree with that analysis.  All I'm trying to do at this  
point is establish positive coolant flow.  If I take the thermostat  
out, I should -see- positive flow in the swirl tank.  If I see the  
flow, then I know there are no restrictions and it supports the idea  
of the thermostat being the culprit.  Once established, I can then  
install a known good thermostat (after a boil test that is) and try  
again.

Asa Jay

Quoting "michael at michaelshortt.com" <michaelsavga at gmail.com>:

> 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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