Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #5163
From: Mark Steitle <msteitle@mail.utexas.edu>
Sender: Marvin Kaye <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] expansion tank
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2004 13:23:56 -0500
To: <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Paul,
You're describing my arrangement to a "T".  So, I'll let you know how I plumbed my system.  First, it requires a bung to be welded to the top of the outlet tank on you radiator, where the air pocket would form.  I used a -4.  You will want to run a line from here to the small side fitting on the purge tank.  I connected the bottom fitting of the purge tank to what you show to be connection 2.  By using a "Y" you can make it do double duty with the heater core.  As an alternative, you can add another line on the suction side of the water pump.  The idea here is to have the coolant circulate from the top exit side of the radiator through the purge tank and then back into the engine.   You can use the barb under the oil filter as a source of hot water for the heater core. 

One more thing concerning filling the system.  I removed the thermostats, so I did not use the thermostat housing, but used a block-off plate instead.  I drilled and tapped a hole for an air-bleed on this plate.  (Moroso makes a nice little air-bleed... see pic attached.)  It is at the highest spot on the engine.  You might be able to use Connection 2 for this purpose, but it looks to me like you could have some air still trapped in there if you did that.  So when you are filling your engine through the purge tank cap, open the air-bleed on the top of the water pump housing and leave it open until coolant begins to run out, then close the air-bleed.  This will allow any air to be removed from the engine.  I would check this a few times after the first few short runs, but when the engine has cooled so as not to scald yourself. 

Also, you can feel the side tanks of the radiator and the purge tank to tell if there is hot water or air in the tanks.

Mark S.
   

I have about 3 hours running on my engine and the system seems to be working as intended.  I copied the system used on my LS1 Chevrolet.    At 10:17 PM 1/6/2004 -0500, you wrote:
Well, my custom C&R radiator arrived today.  Looks like nice workmanship. Getting ready to connect all of my cooling connections. I ordered the -16 hose and fittings today....I ended up using Summitt, as I had a credit there, and they had everything in stock, and I want to make some NOISE !!!   Unfortunately, I ordered before finding out about Pegasus....That's OK....at least it's on it's way.
      I purchased an aluminum expansion tank from Canton Racing Products, part number 80-200  see www.cantonracingproducts.com/tanks/expansion_tanks.html   It has a 1/2"NPT fitting on the bottom, and a 3/8"NPT on the side, and provisions for a radiator cap on top.
     OK....I know the two -16 AN fittings on the radiator will go to the top and bottom large inlet/outlets on the waterpump.  That's when the water gets muddy....where might I make the connections for the expansion tank so that I can put water into this thing?  I need to furnish a little more information.  I am also planning on installing a heater core/fan combination in the cockpit for heat.  I found that there is a 5/8" barbed heater core nipple underneath the oil filter.  I had originally figured on using that to go to the heater core. There is another area for a fitting on the water pump. It is an angled fitting right next to the very bottom of the water pump where the large -16 hose will connect. See area labeled "connection 2" on the picture of the water pump. I had planned on using that for the other connection to the heater core. Finally, there is also another plug on the water pump labeled "connection 1" in the same picture. I have no idea what that is/was for.  Any suggestions on how to incorporate a heater core and this expansion tank into my system?  I planned on installing the expansion tank at the very top of the firewall, above the engine.  Any and all suggestions are welcome and very much appreciated.  Sorry for all the questions....I would much rather learn from "those that have gone before" than to make my own expensive and time-consuming mistakes.  Maybe I'll do it right the first time?   Thanks again for all of your assistance.  Paul Conner

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