g741.org

I took 2 really good looking radiators to a local shop last week to have them checked out. The guy called today with the bad news. He says they are both plugged up. He said he puts the hose in the top, the radiator fills up and overflows the top and water trickles out the bottom. He says that the only way to fix them would be to rod them out, but you cant rod these radiators due to the lock seam prevents him from taking the tank off without cracking the header panel of the core. I know this is true, as I have removed tanks and the wrapped over edge just breaks off. If the header panels were available for the radiator, he could replace that, but he says they are not available. he also says acid will most likely burn through the core, or thin the metal that it will let go in short order.
So, any good home remedys for a plugged radiator? Flushing, vibration, mud eating worms with strings tied onto them to pull them out after all the muck is gone?
Thanks in advance,
Tim

I wonder if distilled water would do anything? I think I'd put the radiator cap on it, lay it down and pour some in it through the outlet.

Ive heard of using CLR before to clean out radiators. Might be worth a shot and its cheap if it doesnt work...

If you can get mud eating worms ,that would be the easiest way. Once they eat all the mud they will die and can be flushed out.

I have been working on 62 M37 and the owner just had a new core installed on the old tanks and it looks great and works even better. Not cheap $750.00 which included the R&R and flushing the block.
hb

powerwagontim wrote:I took 2 really good looking radiators to a local shop last week to have them checked out. The guy called today with the bad news. He says they are both plugged up. He said he puts the hose in the top, the radiator fills up and overflows the top and water trickles out the bottom. He says that the only way to fix them would be to rod them out, but you cant rod these radiators due to the lock seam prevents him from taking the tank off without cracking the header panel of the core. I know this is true, as I have removed tanks and the wrapped over edge just breaks off. If the header panels were available for the radiator, he could replace that, but he says they are not available. he also says acid will most likely burn through the core, or thin the metal that it will let go in short order.
So, any good home remedys for a plugged radiator? Flushing, vibration, mud eating worms with strings tied onto them to pull them out after all the muck is gone?
Thanks in advance,
Tim

Who did you bring it to here. Burlington Radiator closed a few yrs ago so I have heard that there is nobody local anymore. I have a 5 ton radiator that needs some braising done............Core is fine, just the fan shroud needs to be re attached. I wonder if you put some chemical in it and maybe pressurize the radiator with 3 psi from the top that it would eventually migrate through the mess and make a opening.

it was just a little shop in Avondale Az.
hb

S and S truck parts carries a US made new radiator p/n S-10251. Big $ though.

Jeff,
It is Beaudions Radiator. Down Home Ave in Burlington near the railroad tracks. Give me a shout and I can give you better directions. Guys name is Brian Beaudoin (Pronounced Beaudwin) and seems to know his stuff.
Tim

IF THE RADIATORS ARE THAT PLUGGED I WOULD TRY A DILUTED SOLOUTION OF MURIATIC ACID, IT WORKS GREAT ON MARINE HEAT EXCHANGERS. AFTER THE MUREATIC ACID, FLUSH IT REAL GOOD WITH TAP WATER.

powerwagontim wrote:Jeff,
It is Beaudions Radiator. Down Home Ave in Burlington near the railroad tracks. Give me a shout and I can give you better directions. Guys name is Brian Beaudoin (Pronounced Beaudwin) and seems to know his stuff.
Tim

Sweet.

A good radiator man can fix the unit if the components are good. I've had many pulled apart, rodded, recored, etc without issue. If this is a really experienced guy you are dealing with, I suspect his main concern is that the brass and copper is in such a state of deterioration that it isn't worth the cost. Most are now because of their age. The best thing to do is replace it with a custom built unit if you want years of trouble free service.

As far as brazing, soldering, or tig welding a shroud, that is extremely simple, we take care of stuff like that in house.