Coolant bleeding on M42 car with e36 radiator/tank

[irish44j]

I just swapped an e36 radiator into my e30, which has an M42. Anyhow, the M20 bleed procedure includes the bleeder valve on the thermostat housing, but the M42 has no bleeder valve there (since the M42 rad has its own bleeder). So with neither of those bleeders available, any tips/suggestions on the best process to bleed the system most efficiently/completely?

btw, expansion tank is located on the driver's side fenderwell pretty much where it is on the M20 car, but on the opposite side. It is higher than the rad/engine.

Any thoughts welcome.

[Danny]

Bleed it like an s50 swap. Leave the cap off the expansion tank, get the car to temp with the heater on high then massage the upper and lower rad hoses to help burp the thermostat open. Add coolant as needed. Drive around the block, let it cool down and then do it again.

Works every single time on my s50 car. Never had an issue.

[irish44j]

Thanks Danny. That was about the only thing I could think of but didn't know if the "jack up the front of the car" or other tricks came in handy here. Luckily I have full coolant in the engine itself so shouldn't be too bad after filling the rad via the upper hose.

[TobyB]

The e36 rad has a bleeder screw in it...

...at least, mine does, in the e36 I drove in today.

t