445 fe questions

[wrench87]

well i finally started the 445fe it cranked over 2 times and fired right up.
i just had a few questions.

1) how much coolant does a fe hold i have a ron davis radiator and the t bird style fill tank?

2) the cable for the msd to distributor is way to long is it ok to shorten it or
should i just loop it near the msd box?.

3) what pound cap should i run on the t bird style tank?.

any information would be appreciated, steve

[wrench87]

here is a picture of the engine.

[FWB]

1) no idea
2)i looped mine under the box and put shrink wrap over it to hide it
3) with a new cooling system i would run a 16lb cap

[beast]

My FE with a Griffin radiator and expansion tank holds 4-1/4 gallons. I shortened my dist leads and used heat-shrink on the splice (looks and worked fine). A 13# cap is recommended for use with the OEM ford expansion tank.
Gary

[RICK LAKE]

wrench87 Rad cap can be from 12# to 15#. I have a 15# because of racing. The system should hold up to 18 psi without any failure.
Air in the coolant system. Getting baby to burp is a pain in the butt. Some guys park car on incline with nose up and fill coolant system slow. Bst way is go to garage with vacuum system and have them install coolant. this way there should be no air pockets. Make sure you have a couple of 1/8" holes in the thermostat housing. This helps get the air out too. Hole to be at top when installed. If the motor is new, no idleing until you have done breakin. Put fan in from of radiator if in drive way to help move air, leave hood open.
3.5 to 4.8 gallons of 50/50 mix.
Cable for MSD box, it's twisted for reason. The best way is to buy new connectors and shorten wires. If you are going to splice, make sure you solder wires togeather and heat shrink to keep out the air and weather. If you can, splice closest to box. Hope box is mounted in car on bottom or side of pass floor. Good luck Rick L.

[razerwire]

Snap-on makes a funnel with a radiator cap attached to it, makes it easier to get air out system. Fill funnel half full and run engine until all air is out.

[wrench87]

when using the t bird style tank where should the coolant level be?
should it be full, half full?.

[elmariachi]

My MSD 6AL came with new ends so you could shorten and crimp them instead of splicing. But if you do cut a section out, you must solder them and properly shield your splicing. As Rick said they are twisted for a reason, to create a protective field around the wiring.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by wrench87

when using the t bird style tank where should the coolant level be? should it be full, half full?.

Mine is about an inch or so above the hole in the bottom. If you fill the expansion tank up about half way or so then it will find its right level my spitting out a little bit of the coolant. Just wipe it up so a dog doesn't get to it.

[undy]

My expansion tank stays full, to the top... always. I've got a sealed recovery tank system. As the coolant expands with engine heat it flows from the expansion tank to the recovery tank. When the engine starts to cool it pulls the coolant back into the expansion tank. Pat's system pulls air back into the tank as the engine cools. I just don't like to introduce air unnecessarily into the sealed system. Oxygen tends to enhance oxidation, something you definately don't want in your cooling system.

[wrench87]

undy, what are you running for a recovery tank?, i still have my tank in the car from my small block it attaches to the dual fan shroud at the top of the radiator . my t bird style expansion tank has the ca[ and overflow on the drivers side so i was wondering where and what i could use?.

[undy]

I'm running a custom welded aluminum tank, about 16" tall and 4" x 4". It was intended for the fox body boyz. It fits nice in my application, passenger side up next to the corner of the radiator. I looked but don't have any pics of it.