ok, now, i need to get the car out of my garage but as some of you know, both the coolant hoses broke off. i dont want to run the car and risk overheating the engine but we need to move this baby. I don't want to push it because that beast weighs too much, plus its hard to get in front of it to push it back. Anyway, how long can the engine run safely without coolant? I'd guess no more than a couple minutes. And is it safe to clog the coolant hoses with a cork or something so that it doesnt poor out while we move it?

 

You have some options... either kink off both hoses, hook the outlet to the inlet on the water pump, or just run it. You can run a bone dry motor for about 5 minutes or more with no problem. If you have coolant in the block it should last much longer before you overheat. If you're just moving around your yard, no problemo. It will take a little time for the block to get heat soaked. If you hear spark knock, shut it off.

 

Pull it out with a rope or chain...using the factory tie downs or axle.

 

Spark knock? You mean pinging? Knocking? Why would that happen?

 

The piston can overheat and knocking can and will occur. This knocking is caused by ignition of the gas/air mix in your cylinder before the spark of the spark plug. This causes temperature and pressure peaks that will melt your piston, crack your cylinder head, and drop one of your exhaust valves. You have heard about those abrupt deaths of air cooled engines.

 

You will be fine if you move it and shut it off. Don't start it, go get a cup of coffe and visit the john and then move it. I've had the motor running for at least 5 minutes without running coolant in it and never had a problem. Remember, though, revving it up will create more heat, so keep the rpms down. I can guarantee you won't hurt the motor doing this unless something's already wrong with it. think of this:

How long does it take a v8 to get to operating temps

There are drag racers that have a solid block with no coolant whatsoever that do 1/4 mile passes

 

Ha! What I reckon is hilarious are the top fuel dragsters, they're engines can take only about a few seconds under load, then they're good to throw out. Imagine having one in a street car. "Okay I gonna go get some milk," down the street and you need a rebuild. Ha Ha!