914-V8 coolant system questions Options

[MM1]

To any of you current and former V8 conversion owners, I would appreciate your advice.

I’m nearing the end game of my coolant system overhaul (1965 Chevrolet stock, carbureted 283 in.³ V8) and I spoke with Don, the veteran at Renegade Hybrids, the other day for quite some time.

Don said he has done V8conversions on 914’s for 40 years.

He suggested two things for my current project:

1.) Cut two or three 1/8 inch holes into a 160° thermostat . I prefer to go with the OEM 180 and I’m wondering if I should cut one, two or three holes in it - my veteran Ford tech neighbor thought perhaps I should cut one ( he’s going to help me pressure test the system and then pull a vacuum to fill it if the radiator doesn’t leak after I removed those 30 year old hoses ).

2.) Burp the coolant system with the car nose down. Part of the reengineering/overhaul here is that I am adding Moroso expansion tank/coolant tank next to the engine as high as I can get it. The engine is actually nose down a bit so the Ford tech thinks that with the vacuum system we should be able to get every bit of air out of it but if we nose it down then maybe steam pockets or air will stay in the back of the heads since they are already higher than the front when the car is level on the ground.

Any thoughts/suggestions/experiences regarding the above?

Thank you all!

[PatMc]

To any of you current and former V8 conversion owners, I would appreciate your advice.

I’m nearing the end game of my coolant system overhaul (1965 Chevrolet stock, carbureted 283 in.³ V8) and I spoke with Don, the veteran at Renegade Hybrids, the other day for quite some time.

Don said he has done V8conversions on 914’s for 40 years.

He suggested two things for my current project:

1.) Cut two or three 1/8 inch holes into a 160° thermostat . I prefer to go with the OEM 180 and I’m wondering if I should cut one, two or three holes in it - my veteran Ford tech neighbor thought perhaps I should cut one ( he’s going to help me pressure test the system and then pull a vacuum to fill it if the radiator doesn’t leak after I removed those 30 year old hoses ).

2.) Burp the coolant system with the car nose down. Part of the reengineering/overhaul here is that I am adding Moroso expansion tank/coolant tank next to the engine as high as I can get it. The engine is actually nose down a bit so the Ford tech thinks that with the vacuum system we should be able to get every bit of air out of it but if we nose it down then maybe steam pockets or air will stay in the back of the heads since they are already higher than the front when the car is level on the ground.

Any thoughts/suggestions/experiences regarding the above?

Thank you all!

I would not drill any holes in the thermostat...as it defeats the purpose. A good thermostat should have a little jiggle valve in it, which is all you should need.

I'd get one of these or rig up something similar to get the "head" significantly higher than any other part of the system. https://www.amazon.com/Thorstone-Radiator-A...47741&psc=1

I've done lots of SBC swaps (never in a 914), but I've had the best luck removing the thermostat housing and filling through there....squeezing the accessible hoses to burp the system as you go then a final top-off to about level with the gasket surface before installing the T-stat and housing, then hook up the hoses, install the funnel, and fill' er up about an inch from the top....then go fondle the hoses some more, and fire it up.