Hello All,

This past winter, spring, and most of the summer so far I have been prepping my '71 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 for an upgrade from the stock 2-barrel intake system to a 4-barrel. So far I have rebuilt a 4-barrel carb (Quadrajet) from a '73, refurbished a used air cleaner, and have already installed the "new" intake manifold that I repainted from a '72 4-barrel Cutlass. I have reattached the components to the manifold except the vacuum lines and carb. I just replaced the belts and hooked up the electrical systems. I plan to change out the 2-barrel throttle cable to the 4-barrel version next before I bolt on the carb. I was looking for any advice or warnings you all have before firing the car back up. Also, when I refill the radiator with coolant how do I "burp" the coolant system. I already have a fire extinguisher ready and very excited.

Thank you,
BrawnyMan

 

Do you have a friend as another set of eyes, to keep a lookout?

I would prime the carb with a little gas and install the air cleaner. Its also a flame arrester.

Burping.. I fill the rad and run the engine a bit with out the cap, don't over rev, just a high idle is fine. At first sign of the thermostat opening top off and put the cap on. Run for a short time. Wait till it cools and is safe to do so, remove cap and check/fill rad. Should be done.

 

The -VERY FIRST- thing to do in the start up process would be to crank the engine with the coil wire disconnected. Crank in short bursts, certainly no longer than 30 secs. at a time, 2 or 3 times. Doing so will prime the oil pump so there is not a delay between firing and delivery of oil to the running engine.

 

The car ran very well before I took it down to do the intake upgrade and is still full of oil. So should I still do this?

 

Yes, I have another set of eyes. How can you tell when the thermostat opens?

 

Just look down into the radiator spout indirectly so you don't get splashed in the face. When you see the level drop the thermostat is opening. You don't need to prime the oil because you didn't do anything in the bottom end and it wasn't long ago that the car was run. The oil pressure will come up quick as you crank to get the engine restarted.

 

X 2 I also fill the radiator to the neck before starting AND leave the radiator cap OFF. A good flashlight to shine down in the radiator will show coolant flowing. A flashlight and mirror could be handy if you have leaks in dark places.
.....Just my two cents worth.

 

My answer is two fold:
1- How long ago was the intake upgrade performed?
2- It can't hurt.

 

You can burp the air out by jacking up the corner of the car, the side with the radiator cap. Get the cap to the highest point, etc it sit overnight , the air will be gone.

 

1- Car has been sitting since around November/ December of last year with all fluids intact and stable. In June, the manifold was taken off and the new one put in within a span of three days with coolant being drained a few days before that. It has since been sealed back up but with plugs inserted in the carb-to-manifold throttle holes to keep moisture and junk out while I tune up the carb a bit, replace vacuum hoses, source some parts, clean the hell out of it, and generally prep it for the carb.
2- Very true.

 

^^ x2 ^^

No reason to prime. Hit the IGN & fire it up.