Coolant flow path

[ERA Chas]

Would any engine builders or knowledgeable types care to detail the direction of coolant (front, rear and side to side) in an FE? Block, pump, heads and intake?
I know it exits the block from the upper hose and enters from below. The crossover is in front but the heads have a rear water port but the intake is blocked there.
After all these years, I realized I don't have as good an understanding as I'd like.
Thanks,

[Jerry Clayton]

The heads are reversable from side to side so there are water ports at both ends so the intake manifolds are made so they block that port off---its that way on most all v8 engines and some racers will put hoses from there forward to help keep the temps more even

[wolf k]

Water leaves the two discharge ports from the pump equally and enters both banks of the block at the front. There it flows around the cylinders and then up into the heads. The size of the holes in the head gasket are designed to equalize the water flow so that all cylinders get the same flow rate (that is why installing the gaskets in the correct orientation is important). Water then flows through the heads and exits at the crossover in the intake manifold where it combines from both banks. It then encounters the thermostat, which if open, leads water to the radiator, or if closed, slows down the water flow tremendously, allowing the engine to warm. The small by-pass hose allows a small amount of flow back to the suction side of the pump when the thermostat is closed to prevent dead-heading the pump. Water from the open thermostat to the radiator from top to bottom and back to the suction side of the pump. Again it is the size and orientation of the holes in the head gasket where all the heavy engineering is. These equalize flow so that all cylinders and heads run at near the same temperature. And what Jerry said about the rear block-off, it there because the heads are reversible, thereby allowing for one casting.

[ERA Chas]

A big 'Duh' from me. I know heads are reversible for one casting.
So block first then through the deck to the heads. Wolf you state the water flow is regulated by the size holes in 'the intake gasket'. Do you mean the head gasket instead??
The intake gaskets at the head exit are much larger than the casting hole. Here's mine before clean-up:

Thanks to you both for text-book answers.

[lovehamr]

Chas, those aren't "Print-O-Fail" gaskets are they? If they are then you may want to research intake gaskets for FEs here and on the FE forum before you button that puppy up. Just a friendly word of caution.

Steve

[ERA Chas]

Thanks for the concern Steve. No they're not-they are the newer steel reinforced 1247 S3's. They feel like soft linoleum (not the old cardboard) with a steel core and they're nice!

[lovehamr]

Excellent, that's the first that I've seen of them.

[undy]

Front of the engine to the rear, up through each head's rear water port, from the rear of the head to the front of the head, into the intake in front and out through the thermostat opening...

[Full Throttle Al]

Switch to Evans NPG+ with no water in the sytem and NO pressure build up, zero. Lifetime coolant, but better cooling properties.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle Al

Switch to Evans NPG+ with no water in the sytem and NO pressure build up, zero. Lifetime coolant, but better cooling properties.

Thanks Al but I'm good for 25+ years the old fashioned way. No pressure problems or overheat. Plus, I like getting it out every second or third season to keep cooling parts clean. Use the block drains each time too.

[philminotti]

Hey Chas-

Don't know much about Felpro 1247's. Are your head's intake ports enlarged, or are they stock size? I'm wondering if the gaskets will accomodate a typical "stage 2" porting job. Thanks.

phil

[ERA Chas]

Yes, my heads are Shelby Stage II but that means different things to different heads. Stage II generally means CNC ports, runners and bowl blending. (As well as CNC chambers) But BT, Brodix and Ede can mean different port sizes. They should all be right near 'medium riser' configuration and size. My ports are 2.080 x 1.38. The 1247 S3's are 2.10 x 1.40. They fit the ports perfectly and the bolt holes and water ports are perfect too.

[ERA Chas]

Oh oh, my bad-Brodix doesn't make FE heads. But you get the idea...

[wolf k]

Awh crap, yea I meant holes in the head gasket do the flow regulating.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by wolf k

Awh crap, yea I meant holes in the head gasket do the flow regulating.

Phew!-Thanks, I feel a little less dumb...

[Fullchat289]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Phew!-Thanks, I feel a little less dumb...

I'm glad I always automatically compute head gasket when someone says intake gasket...so I guess my brain was in sync with Wolf's...

BTW, Chas, interesting topic. I learned something too!

- Allen.

[ERA Chas]

Me too Allen. I should have know this from H.S.
I think there's several basic areas like this I should (or would like to) know a lot more about.
Barry's book is a great reference for me and surpasses Christ's. But I often refer to Christ's because the dated nature of the info and techniques are very basic now. Closer to 'back in the day'.
They never had intake gaskets as good as these then...