Em,
On your radiator/cooling system, did you install a coolant recovery tank and a cap that allows back flow on cooldown, or are you still running expansion room at the top of the tank? Just wondering, because a full system with no air is better for cooling and to help prevent corrosion.

On that loop of hose connecting the pump & manifold (heater lines), that line is like having your heater in service but not taking any heat out of the system. It does take a little bit of the coolant flow into an endless loop of heat gathering, but it shouldn't be a problem given the comparable flow volumes. If you still have a cooling problem you could always drain down the level a bit, cut that small line and plug both hoses which would simulate the heater being off, and see if it makes any difference (I doubt you'll see any change, but it would put 100% flow through the radiator).

Quote Originally Posted by jerry clayton
You can reverse fill it by removing the upper hose and pouring the coolant into engine until it reverse filla the radiator to the top
Jerry, still wondering if I'm missing something on doing a "reverse fill" with a thermostat in place? Not being critical, but it seems to me that the thermostat will block all flow into the engine? Maybe you were thinking a race application with no stat? Or I'm overlooking something again?