Got the engine etc. all back together today Started right up. However I'm having a problem with the cooling system.

I filled the system with about six quarts, started the engine with the radiator cap off and let things warm up, and burp some air.

Will a thermostat go bad just sitting around? It seems to be sticking closed. The car started puking coolant around the radiator after idling for ten or fifteen minutes. I can't see where it is coming from, but the new factory fresh radiator is leaking. I do know one thing I checked the temperature gage and it was over in the hot zone, not pegged but a good 3/4th over.

When I first filled the system the heater circuit stayed air bound for a time. After running the engine for a bit, I was able to add the last two quarts at which time the circuit began to function.

Top radiator hose was pressurized, hot, and radiator cold, so I shut the engine down when I figured out it was over heating. After shut down, I squeezed the top hose several times and the water started to circulate into the radiator by convection.

Any ideas?

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Sounds like the thermostat wasn't opening as it was surrounded by air rather than coolant. If you were able to add 2 more quarts and the upper radiator hose is hot. I'd start it back up and see if coolant is circulating.

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Joshua

Test the thermostat in a boiling pot of water...............

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Big Dope Department:

Oh it is better than that, Murphy has been with me all day, even helped me shake a bottle of sticky meat marinade all over the kitchen.....

In my addled fog, I belive I installed the damn thermostat backwards. This enlightened brilliant assessment of the problem came to me just moments after the second Guinness was drained. I haven't taken the thermostat apart yet, I've had enough of Murphy for one day. I just hope I didn't pop my new radiator.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

The radiator should be fine. The pressure cap should have relieved the pressure before any damage was done. If the cap is good and the radiator still failed the radiator wasn't built properly.

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Joshua

I hope so.

For now I'm laying low, touching nothing sharp, breakable, or spillable. Maybe Murphy will move on down the street from boredom...

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

We all have those "D'OH!" moments. This one's relatively minor; laugh about it, go have a beer, and call it a do-over.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

One thing I do whenever I install a T-stat, in any car. If there is not one present (a lot have one), I drill a small air bleed hole (about .050-.060) and install with the hole at the high point, on a vertically mounted stat. Drill the hole in the "flange" of the stat, as close to the mounting area as possible, but not where it would be covered by the gasket when installed.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Charrlie_S: Good idea. Next time I will drill a hole. For now I just opened the extra tap to the water jacket near the temperature sending unit, messy, but a much faster fill.

This morning while my house guests were getting squared away for the day, I correctly reinstalled the thermostat, made another sopping mess on the floor, but got the cooling system working correctly, except for a small drip under the manifold heat box from a non sealed bolt. Of course it is the bolt in back almost imposable to get to, and will require a partial drain down to fix.

Dan: .

Perhaps, but yesterday was one of those three steps forward, two back laced with cereal dumb guy crap happening every steep of the project... I did have a pair of Extra Stouts to south the beast at the end...

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC