[Roadsters] filling up a '70 1600 cooling system

[Roel Hammerschlag]

Hi folks,

I have a 1970 1600.  At the risk of embarrassing myself:

Every time I drain the cooling system I have the most incredibly 
difficult time filling it back up.  Because the thermostat's closed, 
it's virtually impossible to get the block filled with water.  The very 
suboptimal solution I've come up with is to run the engine half dry 
until the thermostat opens despite not being submerged (the temp gauge 
usually reads over 260 before this happens) and then sloooowwwwwly 
adding more fluid into the running engine so as not to crack anything. 
There's GOT to be a better way.  Can someone help me out?

- Roel

P.S. I also don't really understand how that reservoir tank on the side 
works, either.  Maybe this is part of my problem.  I try to keep it 
roughly half full like the original manual says.