Coolant ideas - swirl pot or header tank

[tvrolet]

OK, time to start 'wiring up' the cooling system. Engine is a small block Chevrolet, but the principles are the same as anything else.

There is no heater, and although the flow leaves the block through the thermostat housing, there's no thermostat, just a restrictor plate.

Interested in the pros and cons of the 2 solutions I can see, and I've diagrammed them below.

[pic]http://www.indexcomputers.co.uk/cool.gif[/pic]
First option is just to have a swirl pot, with the water level above the thermostat. All the flow goes in the top of the tank, then out the bottom.

Second option (which I was told is better to keep the system purged of air) is to run a small bore tube out the thermostat to a header tank, then another small bore (but a bit bigger!) tube back to the pump.

Got to say I favour the first option as it's so simple, but open to suggestions, comments etc.

WB

[tvrolet]

GreenV8S said:

Any particular reason not to use a stat?

Only that the engine was built and dyno's without one...and the engine builder (who in fairness specialises in race engines) doesn't use them normally.

GreenV8S said:

Your diagram doesn't show any provision for conventional bypass or heater feeds. Removing these...

They're not there to be removed. Car never had heater (Tuscan) and isn't going to get a 'water-fed' one either. (I have other plans ) Pump is a nascar style item, with only a single inlet, and outlet to the block. It has the provision to open/tap other channels, but I hadn't planned to do so.

WB