1965 Cooling system fill

[Marc W.]

Hey folks, I am completing the restoration on my 65 coupe and now ready to fill the new cooling system. I know that my car should hold 19 qts (327/365 with A/C)of coolant/water. I can only get about 10qts. into it. Is there a chance I have an air lock in the system? What is the best way to fill the system ? I want to make sure I have enough coolant/water installed. Thanks for any assistance.
Marc

[Michael G.]

Re: 1965 Cooling system fill

Marc,

I believe your engine has a temp sender screwed into the intake. I've often pulled the sender out, inserted a funnel and filled from that area.....pouring slowly and checking your coolant tank for fullness. Filling from the radiator will not typically get the system "topped out".

[Jim T.]

Re: 1965 Cooling system fill

If your engine was not taken apart it will hold coolant. The block drain plugs located in the middle of the block on each side just above the oil pan when removed will discharge a lot of coolant. Just did one of my cars yesterday, each side of the block held about as much that was drained from the radiator. Removing one block drain will not drain the opposite side.

[John H.]

Re: 1965 Cooling system fill

I fill through the thermostat opening until the level comes up in the manifold, install the thermostat and housing, and finish filling at the expansion tank; only fill the tank 1/2-full cold.

[R N.]

Re: 1965 Cooling system fill

When I fill my car, I disconnect the heater hose that attaches to the intake manifold and attach a short piece of heater hose with one of those Prestone anti-freeze flushing kits and attach the short piece of heater hose back to the intake manifold and the other end to the heater hose that was disconnected from the intake manifold. I can then fill up the top of the engine with a garden hose because of the garden hose connector on the Prestone flushing kit. You can then block one of the heater hoses (with vise grips) and force the water to fill the heater core. This way you know the engine and heater core is full. It's also a great way to flush the system too - (remove the block plugs)

Once the block is full, I then drain the rad only, remove the Prestone hose an re-insatll the heater hose and then pour pure anti-freeze in the rad. When the engine heats up and the anti-freeze is mixed with the water in the block I get close to a 50/50 mix. I let the engine cool and then add a 50/50 mix to top it off and keep doing that until the coolant level is good.

Good luck!