Ash,

It is not that simple, water is sucked in to the engine from the bottom of the radiator on the right hand side of the engine quite low down, the only place the water can get out of the engine is through the aforementioned port in the head along side the rear most inlet port.

Also the thermostat housing was bolted to the inlet manifold unlike the pinto where it is cast into the front of the head I believe.

So two problems really, the first is an inlet manifold to take some bike carbs that has a take of for the water (that bit I can cope with), secondly fitting a thermostat into the system, not essential, I have run cars without them, but I would like one.

I bet if I look, CBS do some sort of inline thermostat housing, that is the trouble with typing a long post I think of the answer by the time I have got to the end. Saves me lying awake all night pondering it though.

2 Jan

Slow and steady today.

I had to fire up the heater in the garage today, the frost outside didn’t clear all day. Exhaust manifold off with no studs sheared, inlet manifold off no studs sheared although the manifold is cracked right on the back end where the last stud goes through, not a problem as a bespoke item will be fabricated, the time consuming bit was labelling all the wires up. The car is now up on stands and the steering rack has been removed, ready to remove the prop and loosen the gearbox mounts. Should have it out tomorrow.

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I took a trailer load of old Sierra bits of the drive to keep the peace and no.1 son got involved.

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Not quite sure how I am going to move the Sierra once it has no wheels!

Just make an inlet manifold that blocks off the water ports

Then there is 3 core plugs on the back of the head that you can pop one out (the one with the m6 tapped holes either side)and the water will come out through there, then you can either fit a 1600cvh thermostat to the same point on the back of the head or just make a flange with a water oultlet and buy a by passing thermostat from car builder (this is what i have done)

If you fit the 1600 cvh thermostat housing you will have to cut the chassis rail that runs behind the engine which is also the same problem when fitting a zetec

Making your own housing will let you angle it upwards to clear the rail :)

Hope this makes sense i wil post some pics tomorow if you want?

I thought this was an 1800 CVH, that does not have the core plugs does it?


Cut the sierra up into managable chunks.

Rob

Yes please mark, that sounds like a good fix to the problem.

Cheers Ginge

Yes the 1800 cvh does have some core plugs on the gear box end of the head

When you pop one out you can see that the water actually passes this point when going to the standard inlet manifold outlet so seems as good a place as any to take it from

Havnt seen a 1600 cvh for a few years now so cant remember what the thermostat housing looks like but i think DaddyA has used one so maybe he can post a pic so people can see the different options and how you need to modify the chassis rail that runs behind the engine

Mark,

I went out to the garage and it is as you described, I couldn’t see the core plug but could feel it from the inside and outside.

Cheers Ginge

just had a look at your picts and can see what you mean. if you want i could machine you an inline thermostat housing that will take a pinto thermostat. then all you would have to do is have a take off on the new inlet manifold.

Cheers Ash,

I am thinking of going down the 1.6 thermostat housing bolted to the back of the engine, route.

I will keep the favour;) in the bank for MJ time cheers:D

it looks so tweeee in there. I am used to trying to work round engines that only just fit in the sierra bay :)

TT