Proper mod motor coolant fill procedure?

[Stangman]

I am going to be filling my coolant up for the first time after replacing a radiator and crossover tube on my Llincoln that got totalled. How can I prevent air pockets in the system, and is there a particular procedure for doing this on a 4.6 dohc car?

[Dirtyd0g]

You have to top it off using the plugged hole in the top of the crossover.
Alan

[Stangman]

Good thing I broke it loose before installing the pipe on the motor.

So I don't add to the resivoir at all?

[Dirtyd0g]

I dump the majority in the reservoir but it would eventually get there.
Alan

[03z06vette]

Dont add any to the resivoir, leave the cap off of it and fill it from the plug in the crossover. Dont start it with the plug out or you'll cause a air pocket in the block and have to start over after it cools down..

[Stangman]

So fire it up... and then pull the plug out?

[Dirtyd0g]

No You have to have it full before you start it or you will make an air pocket and have to wait for it to cool to try again.
I put a gallon in the reservoir because it pours in fast and then I put it all in through the plug with the reservoir cap loose until I see it filling up then I tighten the cap.
Alan

[cstreu1026]

...I thought 2V's could be a PITA.

[Dirtyd0g]

No the tall pipe on the 4v's is harder to deal with but I do 2v's the same way by pulling a temp sensor.
Alan

[Brandon Alsept]

I always fill threw the top plug until the res fills up, then put the cap on res and continue to fill threw top hole until full.

[Stangman]

Well, got it filled up thru the plug as far as it would go, the thermostat took forever to open since it had been closed for 2 years, but it opened up and took some more coolant from the resivior. Car got pretty hot so I shut it off a few times, and started it back up, then it seemed to level itself out and cool back down

Car runs pretty good! like I never parked it! except it smokes a little when you give it gas. I guess the valve seals dried out on it from sitting.

[Dirtyd0g]

add some cheap atf to the oil they will soften back up

[03z06vette]

add some cheap atf to the oil they will soften back up

P.S only do this for a short time. like 20-30 min at idle...

[Stangman]

Cool. Will do. Im going to change the oil next week. Gotta do some other things first. Thanks for the tip

[Dirtyd0g]

Nah I leave atf in my oil, Keep it under a quart and make sure it doesn't overfill it.
Alan

[Stangman]

Dex/merc or atf3?

[Dirtyd0g]

cheapest stuff you can get, dexIII preffered