Hey all. I finished putting together my engine again, just an HCI swap I went with twisted wedge 170cc heads and Anderson N41 cam, self ported my GT40 lower and carefully put everything back together. I got it running again last Thursday and working out some bugs whenever I have the spare time. The biggest problem I am having currently is with the cooling system. I do have a mechanical gauge BTW.
At first, the thermostat appeared as if it did not want to open. I installed a 192*, and to my stupidity, I did not test it in boiling water before installing it. The engine would heat up very quickly according to the gauge. It seemed as if there were "steam pockets" in the engine because it would cool down quickly as well. the gauge would read 220ish before I shut it down. I have been working to try to eliminate air from the system and top off the rad every time before I start it again.
So tonight, I started it in the garage, pulled it up the road to my yard and took off the rad cap I parked it on a hill and shut it down. I immediately stepped out and loosened the rad cap and coolant spewed out of it. Could the water pump generate that much pressure in just a few minutes of running? The system is holding pressure, even after sitting for a period of time, so I don't believe there are any leaks. There is no coolant spewing out of the resevoir, actually the coolant level in there doesn't seem to change at all, and the coolant does not smell of exhaust gases. Smells just like antifreeze. So I left the cap off, started the engine and it ran just for a minute or two before the coolant level started to rise and dump into the overflow. I didn't notice any bubbling or anything. At that point I stuck the cap back on. It started to warm up quickly. I let it warm up to around 220 or so, shut it down, loosened the cap until air hissed out and coolant just began to come out. I did this a few times and finally noticed my gauge dropped when I restarted the car. The coolant finally circulated and the upper hose was hot. I shut it down and started it again after a few minutes and it heated up to around 220 before I shut it down once again. I didn't get to mess with it much more because it was getting dark outside. Does it sound like I just have air in my system? Thermostat could be junk? Or the dreaded head gasket leak diagnosis? I don't know. I am at a loss. I've never had an issue like this.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
At first, the thermostat appeared as if it did not want to open. I installed a 192*, and to my stupidity, I did not test it in boiling water before installing it. The engine would heat up very quickly according to the gauge. It seemed as if there were "steam pockets" in the engine because it would cool down quickly as well. the gauge would read 220ish before I shut it down. I have been working to try to eliminate air from the system and top off the rad every time before I start it again.
So tonight, I started it in the garage, pulled it up the road to my yard and took off the rad cap I parked it on a hill and shut it down. I immediately stepped out and loosened the rad cap and coolant spewed out of it. Could the water pump generate that much pressure in just a few minutes of running? The system is holding pressure, even after sitting for a period of time, so I don't believe there are any leaks. There is no coolant spewing out of the resevoir, actually the coolant level in there doesn't seem to change at all, and the coolant does not smell of exhaust gases. Smells just like antifreeze. So I left the cap off, started the engine and it ran just for a minute or two before the coolant level started to rise and dump into the overflow. I didn't notice any bubbling or anything. At that point I stuck the cap back on. It started to warm up quickly. I let it warm up to around 220 or so, shut it down, loosened the cap until air hissed out and coolant just began to come out. I did this a few times and finally noticed my gauge dropped when I restarted the car. The coolant finally circulated and the upper hose was hot. I shut it down and started it again after a few minutes and it heated up to around 220 before I shut it down once again. I didn't get to mess with it much more because it was getting dark outside. Does it sound like I just have air in my system? Thermostat could be junk? Or the dreaded head gasket leak diagnosis? I don't know. I am at a loss. I've never had an issue like this.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
