82 corvette radiator maintanace
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
82 corvette radiator
Hello,
I am planing to working on my engine cooling system. i am going to change my upper and lower radiator hoses coz they are bad and also power rinse/flush my radiator and add in new coolant.
i need the best coolant for this car. currently the car has a 1978 400 small block engine with a carb. i need the name of the coolant and what type. mix or concentrated.
when i empty the radiator what type of coolant should i add in? and how should i refill my radiator to remove all air.
currently my car over heat after driving it for about 15 to 20 mins. i noticed that my lower hose is bent in way that the water flow/passage is so small/squeeed.
thanks
I am planing to working on my engine cooling system. i am going to change my upper and lower radiator hoses coz they are bad and also power rinse/flush my radiator and add in new coolant.
i need the best coolant for this car. currently the car has a 1978 400 small block engine with a carb. i need the name of the coolant and what type. mix or concentrated.
when i empty the radiator what type of coolant should i add in? and how should i refill my radiator to remove all air.
currently my car over heat after driving it for about 15 to 20 mins. i noticed that my lower hose is bent in way that the water flow/passage is so small/squeeed.
thanks
Last edited by rzkas; Jun 16, 2011 at 06:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
you should be able to use any off the shelf coolant if you are not having a problem .the hose bending like you said is a problem.get a new hose and see if it has a spring inside.that should fix your problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Canastota Ny
IS THE RADIATOR HOSE YOU HAVE ON THERE CORRECT to begin with? sounds like its too long and bending up on you. if the hose is collapsed just sitting cold there then its def time to replace and an OEM one from napa would work fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
i know. i have two brand new hose. one for upper and one for lower. but my main concern is how to fill the radiator tank without any air trap inside and also what type of coolant or brand name coolant i should use. green color or pink color?
thanks
thanks
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
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From: columbia city in
green is what should be in there .that is the old stuff before the pink .fill up the radiator.put the cap on ,then add some to the overflow tank .start it up and see were the level in the over flow goes .you should be fine .
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Correct colant amount ?
On my 79, I went to a junk yard and took the springs out of five cars and once home I cleaned them up and I put one in the upper hose as well as the lower, The lower already comes with a spring in it. (But go to NAPA cause the lower hose on any car needs to have something to keep it from collapsing under normal driving operation. I put one in the upper hose because it too, will collapse once the engine cools off overnight and I didn't like the look of the long 'S' bend hose collapsed.
But fill the radiator with a gallon of green and then a little water and back to green and once the engine is above 195 degrees, your going to be able to see the thermostat open and the mixture will be flowing across the radiator and you'll be able to see it flowing, Ok put the cap on it and turn it till the two arrows are pointing at the overflow hose. run the car around and once you get back, make sure the radiator overflow tank has enough coolant that it is at or slightly above the full 'Hot' mark.
Leave the car alone and get some sleep. The next morning come out and open the hood and check the radiator overflow tank. you'll see the level of coolant in now below the hot and sometime the 'Cold' mark, fill it with a little green antifreeze and a little water to bring it up to the 'Cold' mark on the tank. Once the engine gets hot and everything is working, there's some air in the system and allowing to sit over night, the engine cools off and creates a vacuum and sucks some of the anti-freeze back into the engine/radiator. I hope I've been of some help, I've done this job at least twenty times and I know it's frustrating the first time around.Good luck !
Last edited by killain; Jun 30, 2011 at 08:09 PM.
