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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Shade Tree Mechanic
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OP
Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35 |
Yesterday I wanted to take my '49 3600 out for a spin and noticed that the coolant in the radiator was low. I filled it with water and took off. No sooner did I get around the block and the 216 was overheating. I parked it and waited until it cooled down with the intention of limping back home. To my surprise, when I started back up, no more temperature problem. Did I create some kind of airlock that caused the thermostat to stick? I heard about drilling 3/16 holes somewhere in the thermostat. Any advice.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,701 Likes: 141
ChatMaster - 25,000
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ChatMaster - 25,000
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,701 Likes: 141 |
It should not be necessary to drill holes in the thermostat....but for some reason the thermostat failed to open or the opening was delayed.
Gene Schneider
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64
ChatMaster - 15,000
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ChatMaster - 15,000
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64 |
The termostat will have a small air blead hole already in place. If the water level is below the thermostat and then the radiator filled to the indicated level the cooling system will still be underfilled and there will be an air bubble next to the thermostat. If you try to drive the vehicle before the liquid contacts the sensor section of the 'stat then it will not open as it should. I suspect that the cool down time solved the 'stat opening problem and when the coolant was topped off everything will be ok.
How Sweet the roar of a Chevy four!
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