Last time I drained out my V8's cooling system for the DOD delete, I had problems with refilling it properly and it basically got near overheating before the thermostat finally opened. I had opened the steam line on the heads to bleed the air but wasn't getting much coolant out of it.
This is not a full on how-to but this is a tip on on how I refilled it and it worked like a charm.
After installing the water pump and everything else, I left the top hose off and disconnected the small hose that goes from the heater hose to the steam line at the front right head. I then partially filled the radiator so that coolant would fill the lower hose to the thermostat. I then put a funnel into the pump's top hose inlet and filled it until I saw coolant coming out of the steam line's hose fitting. I put the small hose back on. I then topped off the water pump's inlet and reconnected the top hose. Filled the radiator to the top, squeezed the hose a few times and filled some more. Started the engine and topped it off some more. Closed the cap, done.
It got up to 194f highest, went back down to 192f and pretty much stayed there.
I think because of the dip the top hose does, it prevents the coolant from filling the water pump and block/heads properly. I had even used one of those coolant filling funnels and it didn't help. I just used a regular funnel this time with this method.
This is not a full on how-to but this is a tip on on how I refilled it and it worked like a charm.
After installing the water pump and everything else, I left the top hose off and disconnected the small hose that goes from the heater hose to the steam line at the front right head. I then partially filled the radiator so that coolant would fill the lower hose to the thermostat. I then put a funnel into the pump's top hose inlet and filled it until I saw coolant coming out of the steam line's hose fitting. I put the small hose back on. I then topped off the water pump's inlet and reconnected the top hose. Filled the radiator to the top, squeezed the hose a few times and filled some more. Started the engine and topped it off some more. Closed the cap, done.
It got up to 194f highest, went back down to 192f and pretty much stayed there.
I think because of the dip the top hose does, it prevents the coolant from filling the water pump and block/heads properly. I had even used one of those coolant filling funnels and it didn't help. I just used a regular funnel this time with this method.