:fm:Alright, I don't normally come here and start complaining...but I have to vent before I come unglued.
The issue: two months ago I noticed the Cobra was running warmer than usual & leaking coolant around the thermostat housing, so I parked the car and ordered new parts. The old t-stat housing was cracked so off it came. I just reinstalled it and a new OEM thermostat, flushed the coolant and filled with Peak antifreeze, and I attempt to open the coolant crossover plug and it didn't budge. Even with some penetrating oil, nothing...and then >SNAP< goes the 1/4 drive ratchet attachment. It broke off and is still stuck inside. This cheesed me off since about 25K ago I flushed & refilled and burped the system perfectly in one shot. I even put ANTI-SEIZE on the stupid plug so it wouldn't give me troubles later on. :burn: So much for thinking ahead.
So I went ahead and jacked the car up, and filled it using the de-gas bottle. Turned on heater to full blast, let it warm up in the garage on jackstands & topped her off. Everything was fine. I let her down, take it down the street and onto a 2 lane road and the temp creeps up and up. I pull over & burp it...and its fine. Drive some more. Creep creep creep. So its back home and in the garage again until I can cool off :fm: I am on my first of many beers.
A few thoughts as I come to my senses.
1. What can I do to get this plug out now that my ratchet is broken off inside?
2. Who sells that replacement brass plug that I can use to chuck the POS stocker? I may also look at plumbing a gauge that actually works.
3. Is there a way to burp the system without using the crossover plug? Right now I don't really want to open up a can of worms by stripping out the tube itself and spending $200 for a new one.
4. Anyone know the name & address of the Ford engineer that designed the crossover plug to accept a 1/4 drive instead of having a normal hex head? I owe that bastard a knuckle sandwich.
Thanks as always for the help everyone. And for letting me vent. :beer:
The issue: two months ago I noticed the Cobra was running warmer than usual & leaking coolant around the thermostat housing, so I parked the car and ordered new parts. The old t-stat housing was cracked so off it came. I just reinstalled it and a new OEM thermostat, flushed the coolant and filled with Peak antifreeze, and I attempt to open the coolant crossover plug and it didn't budge. Even with some penetrating oil, nothing...and then >SNAP< goes the 1/4 drive ratchet attachment. It broke off and is still stuck inside. This cheesed me off since about 25K ago I flushed & refilled and burped the system perfectly in one shot. I even put ANTI-SEIZE on the stupid plug so it wouldn't give me troubles later on. :burn: So much for thinking ahead.
So I went ahead and jacked the car up, and filled it using the de-gas bottle. Turned on heater to full blast, let it warm up in the garage on jackstands & topped her off. Everything was fine. I let her down, take it down the street and onto a 2 lane road and the temp creeps up and up. I pull over & burp it...and its fine. Drive some more. Creep creep creep. So its back home and in the garage again until I can cool off :fm: I am on my first of many beers.
A few thoughts as I come to my senses.
1. What can I do to get this plug out now that my ratchet is broken off inside?
2. Who sells that replacement brass plug that I can use to chuck the POS stocker? I may also look at plumbing a gauge that actually works.
3. Is there a way to burp the system without using the crossover plug? Right now I don't really want to open up a can of worms by stripping out the tube itself and spending $200 for a new one.
4. Anyone know the name & address of the Ford engineer that designed the crossover plug to accept a 1/4 drive instead of having a normal hex head? I owe that bastard a knuckle sandwich.
Thanks as always for the help everyone. And for letting me vent. :beer: