I finally got my swap running with no codes and I was revving it, after I started pushing it farther I had it at around 6000Rpms and smoke started billowing out of the engine bay. Scared the crap out of me, coolant line blew right over the down ppe causing a bunch of steam. Here is the line that blew, the picture is the back side of the engine. My question is what should I do when replacing it, will it be under pressure if that cap is off, do I have to drain all the coolant first. When I add coolant after replacement will I have to open that air release valve?

 

Well, since the line blew, there shouldn't be too much coolant leaking out after you remove the entire line - but there will be some. You can either drain the entire system, slap the new line on, and then fill it back up. Or just hurry and pull the old busted line off, and replace it as fast as you can (while the coolant pours out).

Either way you'll have air in the coolant system. Unforunately, you can only manually the bleed the air out of the radiator, not the coolant that's actually in the motor. But, realize that the radiator cap has a spring in it for a reason - if your radiator reservoir tank is full, the coolant system will automatically draw in coolant from the reservoir if there are any air pockets in the system. This takes a few days to get all of the air out - just drive it, and check the reservoir every couple days for a week or two, then the air bubbles will go away as the system draws in the additional coolant. Make sense?


[Modified by MrTodd, 10:54 PM 10/30/2002]

 

Wondering if I'd just be better off draining the whole thing. Its more of a crack than a blow, if I push the line to the side it opens the crack and squirts out.

 

Yeah, if you don't mind draining the entire system, they by all means drain it!

Have fun.