Well, it started anyway, which calmed my torque-shattered nerves after
pulling up those threads last week. Thanks to the group for all the
help. Throwing away those spacers did the trick, and I didn't put in a
helicoil kit. I may regret that come the next torque stage, but my shop
mechanic talked me into it.

  Three hours fifty minutes from bare block to introducing coolant back
into the system and cranked.

I'll get around to bleeding it tomorrow evening I hope. Just enough
coolant any now (sitting level) to fill the tank.

Which brings me to my question: I don't really "get" the instructions
in Bently about bleeding, especially whether/when the coolant tank
should be open or closed.

Do you leave the coolant tank open and keep adding coolant, or do you
leave it shut and stop the engine every few minutes to top it up?

Obviously, after the thermostat opens you've got a lot more to put in,
then more as the radiator fills.

Any tricks?

thanks,

Jim