New owner of an 87 GT with a Caddy 4.9 swap. I need to know the correct procedure to fill and bleed the air from the cooling system.
Bob

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1965 Buick Gran Sport
1976 Alfa Romeo Spider
1984 Porsche 944
1986 Camaro IROC Z
1987 Pontiac Fiero, Caddy 4.9L V-8
1988 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z
1989 Chrysler TC SOHC
1989 Chrysler TC DOHC
1992 Lexus SC400
1997 Ford F350 (support vehicle)

I have a 4.9 in my Formula.
I use the stock 4.9 water neck.

Remove the radiator cap.
Remove the thermostat.
Fill the engine block through the thermostat opening until the coolant is visible at the radiator.
Fill the hose that attaches to the water neck until coolant slightly overflows the radiator.
Replace the radiator cap.
Continue filling the engine and hose until no more coolant can be added.
Reinstall the thermostat and the hose.
Be sure the overflow tank is at the full mark .
Start engine and monitor temp gage, under car cooling tubes and radiator inlet and outlet.
The system should begin to warm up as the coolant circulates.
When warmed up, turn off engine and allow coolant to be drawn from overflow tank to radiator.
Monitor overflow tank frequently after driving, until no more coolant is being pulled into the system.

Great- just what I needed to know!
Thanks,
Bob

If you feel industrious (or if you start losing coolant*, as I did) you can move the overflow bottle to the back, which is the highest point.
You'll need a fill adapter, which is available from Summit racing, and an aftermarket overflow bottle, from one of the parts stores.
I put a 20# cap on the radiator, and removed the front bottle, completely.
I put the 15# cap at the rear, and plumbed it to the parts-store overflow bottle, which is mounted where my air filter housing used to be.
I also drilled a tiny hole in my thermostat, to allow trapped air to escape.

*I was losing coolant due to the use of the Cadillac "stop leak" tablets, which were supposedly recommended for the 4.9. They leave a gritty residue, which allowed the radiator cap seal to be less than perfect, once the engine cooled and the pressure equalized a bit. The coolant would slowly leak "downhill" and overflow the front bottle. Since the thermostat and the new fill point, and the overflow, are the highest point, there is no longer an opening "downhill".




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Raydar
88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550

Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-16-2015).]