A little update ...
I started the car today about an hour ago after approximately 2 weeks of working on it. Fired right up! Here's what I accomplished since I last posted:
- Removed and reinstalled the intake manifold to removed the long coolant pipe which travels to the read of the cylinder head.
- Cleaned the rear coolant flange, installed a new o-ring, and fitted a small section of hose and a plug to temporarily seal the rear coolant passage.
- Reinstalled the Wahler thermostat.
- Added oil, soap, and water, checked for leaks and ran the engine for about 10 minutes.
For the o-ring I purchased the Harbor Freight "225 PC. Nitrile O-ring Assortment"; item 67609. This kit comes with a lot of o-rings, from a 3mm ID to a 22mm ID. For the rear coolant flange I used a "G22 22x3mm" o-ring. This fits appropriately snug around the flange neck and is thick enough to mimic that of the o-ring that was installed.
Kit was $4.99 on sale for $3.99 minus a 20% off coupon for $3.19. Naturally I also used my free flashlight coupon, too.
I plan to drive the car locally to get the temperature up and the soap flowing. I'll drain as time provides, but I believe it'll take 8-10 times. Then I'll replace the hoses, radiator, and a good coolant/distilled water mix; and call it winter.