The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly - NCRS Discussion Boards

The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

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  • Dan D.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • November 5, 2008
    • 1323

    The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

    Having not been run since 1974, Labor day was the day to finally let my 57 come to life again. This car is a driver - it lost it virginity in 1962 by the second owner, and was hit hard in the left rear sometime after that. The repair looks good from the surface, but there is evidence on the floor pan that will always be visible. It is a 327 +.03 with a 375 fuel unit. The engine was rebuilt 8 years ago but never run. Likewise the fuel injection was also rebuilt/restored in that time frame and never run.

    I had it all primed and set to go. Oil pressure was run up, timing set statically with an ohmmeter for 8* advance, and Ethanol free fuel was pumped to the fuel meter by Mityvac. I turned the engine over several times without spark plugs to fill the fuel meter and spider with gas. The radiator (original copper re-cored) was filled with antifreeze. Last week I built a nice remote starter box, with ignition kill switch and LED as well, so I could control the engine from under the hood. My son and a neighbor were on hand for the big event.

    That engine did not roll even a half a revolution and it was running. In other words it started instantly. And running really good. No hesitation, all 8 cylinders, and it sounded very healthy. The plan was for a steady 20 minute burn at 2500 RPM to break in the cam and lifters. It was 90* in Rochester Monday, and 90* in my garage, but it did not overheat. It got hot, 200* at the thermostat housing, but it seemed to stabilize there. 180* thermostat that I drilled a small hole in to purge out any air. I tickled the throttle a couple of times and the engine responded really well. After about 17 minutes into the burn, I was just thinking about shutting it down. At this was the good part.

    Then all hell broke loose. The cockpit suddenly and without warning erupted with scalding hot water, steam and antifreeze. Not good. That was the bad part. It blew the heater hose off the right angle fitting that goes to the heater core. More about that next. The passenger side floor pan was a lake. Vacuuming up the standing water after it had cooled down was easy using the shop vac. The problem of course is how to get the antifreeze out. This was, and still is, the ugly part. Most of the remaining water has since evaporated, but the antifreeze of course remains; antifreeze does not evaporate. The interior is all brand new. Seat covers, door panels, and carpet with insulation. The only way I know to get antifreeze out is by flushing it with water. The carpet is the main problem because it is glued down. So I was just wondering if anyone on the forum has encountered this situation before and has any ideas about how to remove antifreeze.

    I have driven C1 Corvettes for many year back in the day and never had this happen before. But looking at how it is designed I see the problem. The right angle fitting is nothing more than a hardware store variety 1/2" copper sweep ell. It does not have any serrations or a bell end to lock onto the hose with. And original style Corbin clamps do not have as much clamping force as a worm style clamp does. So in looking for a better fitting, I saw nothing in Lowe's or HD. But we have a privately owned hardware store nearby that carries just about every kind of fitting known to mankind. The attached photo shows the original copper fitting and the cast bronze one I found at this hardware store. I think this is much better solution and is really not noticeable. If anyone is doing any heater or related work on these cars I would highly recommend using this style fitting. If you cant find one of these I can get one for you at this store as they have several in stock. Keep in mind this is for 5/8 hose. I did not see one for 3/4.








    -Dan D-
    Attached Files
  • Russ S.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 30, 1982
    • 2162

    #2
    Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

    How about using an upholstery shampoo machine. It would need to have a head on a hose.

    Comment

    • Tom B.
      Very Frequent User
      • March 1, 1978
      • 720

      #3
      Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

      That is really too bad that you had this failure. My suggestion would be to get some low suds carpet cleaner like you would use in your home carpet cleaning machine and mix it in a bucket. Since your carpet is already wet just pour a couple cups of the cleaner onto the carpet and then extract it with the shop vac. Repeat as many times as necessary until the antifreeze is gone. Repeated soaking and extracting is the only way to get the oily residue out.

      When I run in a new engine I fill the cooling system with distilled water. That way if there is a failure of a hose or a gasket I'm only dealing with clean water to clean up or remove from the engine. Distilled water won't leave mineral residue in the cooling system either. Once it's run in and all checked and retightened I switch to antifreeze.

      Tom

      Comment

      • Kenneth B.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • August 31, 1984
        • 2087

        #4
        Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

        I was told by many rebuilders to only use water with NO antifreeze till you make sure that the engine & cooling system has no leaks. Have heard about antifreeze leaking in the oil pan & washing out main bearings but this the first I have heard of the heater fitting blowing but its another reason to use just water. Thanks for the heads up.
        65 350 TI CONV 67 J56 435 CONV,67,390/AIR CONV,70 454/air CONV,
        What A MAN WON'T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE

        Comment

        • Darryl D.
          Very Frequent User
          • February 7, 2017
          • 386

          #5
          Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

          Having owned a carpet cleaning company for several years, I recommend you keep flushing your carpet with fresh water and evacuating it with your shop vac until it is clear. You can buy a length of clear plastic tubing to put in your shop vac suction hose to watch the water and should be able to see when you are no longer getting green antifreeze out of it.

          Comment

          • Darryl D.
            Very Frequent User
            • February 7, 2017
            • 386

            #6
            Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

            DO NOT use any cleaner unless you have access to professional enzyme carpet cleaning product. I would just use clear water first to get all you can and then use the product I just mentioned. You have two threads running about this see my post in the other one.

            Comment

            • John F.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • March 23, 2008
              • 2405

              #7
              Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

              I always flared the ends of the elbo on my 62's, then a little Permatex sealer with the corbin clamps. Never had a leak!

              Comment

              • Richard G.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • July 31, 1984
                • 1715

                #8
                Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

                Dan;
                Excellent write up.
                We all learn lessons, mostly the hard way.
                Hopefully some one avoids this pitfall because of your write up.
                Glad no one was hurt.
                Rick

                Comment

                • Richard T.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • February 1, 1979
                  • 858

                  #9
                  Re: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

                  Try to find an original copper elbow, they have a ridge near each end to keep the clamp from blowing off.

                  Comment

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