Fluids, and initial startup..

[Eric VerValin]

Ok.. well I'm off to Ford to pick up a thermostat, then I need all my fluids. Is there any preferance as to coolant choices? I'm going to start this thing up with some max-life 5-30, my FL-1A, and don't know what kind of coolant to put in this baby.

Now I still need to get my front tension struts weged outta the car yet, and bleed out my brakes, but I want to fire this thing up now, and make sure I dont have any other issues. I was thinking about firing it up to let it warm up to operating temp, then drain the oil and change the filter. But I'm wondering what my luck will be with that, as I'm sure I'm going to have bubbles in the cooling system, and dont think it will be able to get up to operating temp before the heads get too warm.

From what I've read, you should be semi-kind to it on the first starting, let it warm up, change your fluids, then go beat the snot out of it. This sound right here fellas ? Thanks

 

[Eric VerValin]

Also forgot to add, should i replace the center bearing and intermediate shaft, before I start it? I have it out because I'm waiting on my half shaft to be rebuilt. I have it plugged now, will I be ok to start it up, assuming I leave it out of gear?

 

[AREA 91]

Don't start it with out the CV shafts in, and ATF in your tranny. Being a newly rebuilt engine, the MAX LIFE is a waste IMHO. Use cheap old 5w-30 dino oil. Fill the power steering fluid and coolant. I like to start the car, and top off fluids. Then I "burp" the coolant system by removing a throttle body coolant line. After this, I grab my feeler guages, and bring the RPM's to 2500-2800RPM. Let her get up to temp, making sure that there are no loeaks, and the cooling fan is working properly. I very the RPM over the next 20-30 minutes. Now shut her off, and change the oil and filter. I prefer to let the engine cool completely overnight.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well the max life is just some i have sitting around. I have a few gallons of it, and its regular oil, just some additives in it. P/S and coolant filled, got my 30 dollar thermostat now.. lol I'll have to get the tranny drained, and some new fluid in there, but i'm just making sure I didnt forget anything at this point. One connection to solder, and I think I should be ok.

But with the cooling system and burping... how long should I leave the hose off? Just long enough until I see coolant I assume? I was afraid it would overheat too soon, and not let me get it up to proper temps.