sometime in the next few days I will change the old, gross coolant in the car. Are there any special tricks or things i need to know? Ive changed coolant before, but there might be a quirk on these cars that i dont know about. also, where are the block drains on the 305? is there a special filling procedure or is it pretty standard.

 

I would flush it out really well with a hose while you are at it.

 

i will flush it multiple times. but is there any special procedure for filling? with the engine running? not running? and once the radiator is full, put the cap on then fill the overflow tank?

 

No real standard. I would fill the radiator and let it settle for a moment as air will come out and it will lower as the air evacuates. You can fill the overflow tank to the cold line. Keep in mind with the hoses empty it will continue to burp out air. Once you've filled it up, start it up and check for hose leaks, turn on the heater, then shut it off and if it is not hot, remove the cap and top it off. Thats typically it...I usually just check it one more time after its been up to operating temp and then you are good to go.

 

alright, thanks! also, do i have to drain the block? where are the drains if i do. I want to get as much of that old coolant out as i can.

 

pull the tstat and the lower radiator hose and just flush water through the engine. also when your bleeding the system jack the front of the car up or park on a hill, the higher you can get the radiator cap the easier it is to bleed.

 

gen1 SBC's don't have the bleeding necessity of the LT1. They're pretty forgiving. You fill er up, run til the thermostat opens and top it off.