Camivette

So close to getting the car on the street it hurts! 78 L82, vortec heads, new aluminum radiator. Temp sensor on front. T-stat w 3 small holes drilled around outside (160 deg to be changed to 180)
Added coolant and started the car with the cap off. Coolant slowly started to ride in rad until it started coming out the overflow tube; no coolant flow. Temp reading around 175. Shut down engine, blast of coolant from rad, not hot. Hmmm maybe pump is bad. Removed upper hose....dry, no coolant????? Removed t stat housing....some coolant in base of intake. pulled t stat, ran engine, flow through radiator. So either the t stat never opened and nothing could get by even with my drilled holes or the block and heads are blocked and no coolant flowing through there. Any ideas on where to go from here? New t stat and try again or how do I see if the block has flow?
Could really use some help here.

MelWff

Put the thermostat in a pot of water, heat it, and use a thermometer to determine if the thermostat is opening at the correct temperature

Camivette

That's something I will do when I get home. Another question; coolant flows from the radiator to the block, heads, manifold t stat and back to rad. There's no way there's blockage in the block if I had flow throuth the rad correct? I may be over thinking everything but it's been in the garage for almost 2 years. Thanks

CaseyJones

Air bubbles in the wrong places can trick you when refilling a radiator/engine. Make sure the thermostat works and then try again.

Mike Ward

Why did you shut it down?

tektrans

I would pull the t stat all together to start. Fill the radiator with the car running and the front up on ramps. See how that goes. Also kinda dumb but happens alot-is the t stat in upside down?

troutster71

You dont say if you have a new WP . If new, is it the correct rotation?
They have been packaged wrong....
Good luck.