colling problem (ughhh!)
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Wayne NJ
colling problem (ughhh!)
A while ago, I installed a 190 degree thermostat and gasket in my 77. When I started the car up, there was no circulation after five minutes and so I turned off the car for fear of overheating. The water pump is realtively new so that's not the problem. I know water (that's what we filled the radiator with to test it) entered the engine because it was shooting out of the two hairline cracks in the engine blocks (damn freeze-out plugs didn't pop out!!!!!!). Should I take out the thermostat and try this again? (The radiator was dry when we got the vehicle. I was thinking maybe there's too much air left still in the engine?) The engine, by the way, is not origonal, it was replaced with a chevy crate engine in '93. A real bubba job if I ever saw one. So basically, I'm wondering what I should do to try to establish a flowing cooling system. I also wondered if there's anything I can use to seal those two hairline cracks in my engine block. Thanks for any help! 
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Cracks in your block?
I hope you mean like a gasket leak... otherwise it's welding time, maybe new engine time!
That aside, how do you know there is no water circulation?
One thing you could try is to pull the thermostat out, that would make everything open for flow...
I hope you mean like a gasket leak... otherwise it's welding time, maybe new engine time!
That aside, how do you know there is no water circulation?
One thing you could try is to pull the thermostat out, that would make everything open for flow...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
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From: Smile, it's just the internet.
No cooling and a cracked block... You sure the block froze? You sure it's even a "new" engine, or did bubba just replace the warped heads?
I'd seriously take the whole drivetrain out and open it up (yep, tranny, too.) I think you may have been more than bubba'd.
I'd seriously take the whole drivetrain out and open it up (yep, tranny, too.) I think you may have been more than bubba'd.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 282
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From: chicago south burbs IL
your not going to get flow till the new thermostat opens at the temp then watch for flow at the radiator cap and after you have flow add water as need till its full. As for the cracks you can try going to a heating supply store and buy some boiler sealer and dump it in the radiator and let it get good and hot but ............it could mess up the radiator and plug off the tubes.......I did it on an old tractor we have and it fixed it and its held up for 6 yrs now with no problems but hey its your ride do what ta want. (yes it a bubba fix but it might by ya some time till you have time to fix it right)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
They myth about freeze plugs...they're not freeze plugs. They are core plugs that are there to shake out the casting sand. If you have a block that freezes and it pops out a plug insead of cracking the block, consider yourself a fortunate person.
As to your minor problem...If you start a cold engine and you expect to see coolant circulation in that time period, you'd need to start out at an ambient temperature of 90 or so.
As to your major problem...replace the block.
As to your minor problem...If you start a cold engine and you expect to see coolant circulation in that time period, you'd need to start out at an ambient temperature of 90 or so.
As to your major problem...replace the block.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Wayne NJ
The block isn't a gasket leak, there are two visible cracks, hairline though. As for the cooling, I know there is no circulation beacause I can squeeze the upper radiator hose and there is no water in it. Radiator is shot too. THe engine WAS definetly a new one because it has different dimensions than the origonal engine. I was just hoping to fiz this cooling problem. Back to the block, is there a temporary fix that could plug that crack in the block? Money's a little tight so a new engine is not a good idea at the moment. Thanks for any help.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 93
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From: Wayne NJ
I can't replace the block or the engine right now because money's a little tight. I know there is no circulation because I can squeeze the upper radiator hose and there is no water in it. The radiator is shot too. (I know the engine WAS new because it has different dimension than the old one.) I was just hoping that there was a temporary solution that I can find to fixing the block. Welding's out. I talked to a couple welders. They don't want to attempt to weld the block for fear of further cracking it with the heat. I was looking for some type of sealant or other solution to this. Any ideas? Thanks.
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