Almost Ready to Fire
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Peterborough, Ontario
Almost Ready to Fire
Just a few more minor details and this guy is ready to fire. Question - specs say the 239 hold 23 quarts of coolant, I know the answer to this if I lived in California but what is the proper mixture for antifreeze. I figure maybe 70 %.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Hummmmmmmm. Nice lookin’ new engine. If it was me I would start with just water and some water pump lube and / or block seal (bars leak does both). Warm her up a couple of times and check for any possible leaks, just in case. Antifreeze is nasty stuff if it goes into the wrong places. 50 / 50 mix is standard, good for -34 f.
“but being wrong keeps me humble”
“but being wrong keeps me humble”
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Peterborough, Ontario
Thanks for the info, I will start with water then go to a 50/50 mix.
Heads are made by Schrager Automotive Engineering, vintage 50's manufacturer. I have not been able to find out anything about them other than they may have been around the Chicago area. Anyone ever heard of them. They were in good shape when I got them, a few pits that I had filled, had them checked and ground flat. Had to open up the valve cavities for my high lift cam by hand and that was alot of work but I am hoping they work OK. I have had the engine running with the stock intake and carb and ignition and all seemed to be good, next step is to run it with the dual Strombergs and stock ignition, then go with the electronic ignition.
Thanks for your comments
Heads are made by Schrager Automotive Engineering, vintage 50's manufacturer. I have not been able to find out anything about them other than they may have been around the Chicago area. Anyone ever heard of them. They were in good shape when I got them, a few pits that I had filled, had them checked and ground flat. Had to open up the valve cavities for my high lift cam by hand and that was alot of work but I am hoping they work OK. I have had the engine running with the stock intake and carb and ignition and all seemed to be good, next step is to run it with the dual Strombergs and stock ignition, then go with the electronic ignition.
Thanks for your comments
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Wow, thats a beauty!!
Good luck on getting her lit off. A 50/50 mix will do for most applications
Bobby
Good luck on getting her lit off. A 50/50 mix will do for most applications
Bobby
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From: MA.
CTS..as you know straight water is the best for thermal transfer. If you are just ready to get it going I would use straight water and some water wetter. Wetter will help reduce the block surface tension and help lubricate the pumps. Then as you work all the bugs out and thing get closer to winter use a 50/50 blend with Sierra. Sierra does not foam or froth in these engines. I redid a sweat 37 and had stock water pumps..but mine where on the heads as yours are on the block. But they leaked..because I had a new waker radiator and a 15lbs pressure cap. That was my problem as the 37 flathead does not have a pressure system and it pushed water out of the packing. I did not figure this out until I was relpacing my second pump. So not sure about your later engine and water pumps but you may want to give that aquick investigation.
flatheads forever..very nice.
flatheads forever..very nice.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Peterborough, Ontario
That brings up another question about coolant, the manual says it holds 23 quarts, I am assuming that is an American quart not an Imperial quart. We deal with litres up here and it is almost the same as a US quart. As in the oil capacity I have just put in 5 liters of oil and it looks low on my Lokar dipstick but it could be wrong.
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yes, american. 1 gal. =4 qts. -so 3 gal. antifreeze, 3 gal. water. stagger fill process. 1 gal. anti.-1 gal. water, etc.on third gal. of anti. only put 1/2, then 1/2 water until full. remember to leave room for expansion. if water pumps are stock, then system SHOULD be low pressure. 4-7 lbs. wetter is a very good suggestion simply because engine is beefed up, so more heat, not only that, it works. probably a 180 thermostat, to start.----- LOOKS REALLY GOOD< NICE JOB!!!!!!
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