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I did not set it on fire...yet

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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 01:39 PM
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Default I did not set it on fire...yet

Took the 78 out for a Sunday ride. It is in the middle of a resto-mod and things are going ok. Got it running good with new motor and wife says "take me for a ride" and that beats the crap out of mowing grass

Got about 20 minutes into this and temp starts to climb...crap been fighting this for weeks.

Stop at Grocery store to get some stuff, upon our return to car she says why is this giant puddle under the car?

Crap..radiator is split open like a gutted fish




My wallet is hiding under the bed, my beautiful engine is covered in coolant and I am going to have a beer...

Car is in my garage now and when I can go near it without wanting to set it on fire I will get started

today is definitely a hate the F-ing car day
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 01:45 PM
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You must be a funny guy because you made that bad story enjoyable to read.
Sorry about your bad luck. I hope that you car was telling you that it wanted a new radiator and afterward you won't have any cooling issues.
Yea, sometimes you just have to walk away for a bit. It really is a beautiful car though.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by brent319
You must be a funny guy because you made that bad story enjoyable to read.
Sorry about your bad luck. I hope that you car was telling you that it wanted a new radiator and afterward you won't have any cooling issues.
Yea, sometimes you just have to walk away for a bit. It really is a beautiful car though.
I new in my gut that it needed a radiator when I had the car all apart, but I did not have the funds. put that money into the valve train..

I should have waited a pay day or two and done it when it would have been easy and done right the first time...

story of my life
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 02:08 PM
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For the radiator to split its seams, there has to be a tremendous pressure build up.
Pressure build up can be caused by a few things..bad water pump (not circulating water),
bad thermostat (stuck not circulating water), as stated-bad radiator (clogged, not allowing circulation), and even a crack in a cylinder head/bad head gasket (allowing combustible gasses into your coolant).
It's obvious that now the radiator is bad, but I wouldn't overlook the other suspects.
Good luck.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 02:12 PM
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it could be an old radiator that has finally split apart from aging(just like me).
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 02:18 PM
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BTDT! I've felt that way, more than a few times! You start thinking evil thoughts, methods of ignition come to mind, along with a spectator's grin! Die Bitch, die! But then you step away from the car, like you did, take a deep breath and have a beer. I'm going into the drivers side power window agaim, this week, for the FIFTH time (please don't ask why or how...).
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 02:32 PM
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I am thinking the rad cap is either bad or it is the wrong one for your cooling system.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Rumbles1960
I am thinking the rad cap is either bad or it is the wrong one for your cooling system.
no everything is correct..The rad was kinda rotted when I got the car. I cleaned it out and decided that the new one could wait.

Bad call because that rotten POS only waited 100 miles in total
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 05:16 PM
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and wife says "take me for a ride"
'cough' you misread her intent 'cough'.

Sorry about your problems...

that rotten POS only waited 100 miles in total
it's a conspiracy.. good luck
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 05:41 PM
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You should always replace EVERYTHING on these cars every few years.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 06:13 PM
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Its seems like its always something.... good idea about the beer.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 07:16 PM
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Beer fixes everything. Now is the chance to get that radiator with the high density core so that you don't have to worry about it in the future.
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 07:47 PM
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Go aluminum and it will stay cool very nicely!
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by F22
Go aluminum and it will stay cool very nicely!
that's the plan drink beer

review the damage in morning

order radiator and throw money at it till it works
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by oldschoolvette
that's the plan drink beer

review the damage in morning

order radiator and throw money at it till it works
That's what we do with corvettes, feed them money
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Old Sep 29, 2013 | 09:39 PM
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Originally Posted by LS4 PILOT
That's what we do with corvettes, feed them money
Forever and ever!
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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by F22
Forever and ever!
6000 in last 60 days and counting

not counting beer
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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 08:24 AM
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funny, I almost had a fire yesterday while working on the dash, wires started smoking...YIKES!.

fire is not pretty, lost my 58 that way


I always step back and look how sweet she looks, WOW what a nice looking car I have.
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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by oldschoolvette
6000 in last 60 days and counting

not counting beer

Black Holes do exist ..a place our energy and resources disappear

We call them. ...Corvettes.
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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:33 AM
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oh, I spent $13,000 every year for it since I own the vette (3 years now).
Just for example:
When I bought it there was a new PS-pump in it. Now there is #3 in it.

Everything that was old has been replaced so far. And now the new parts begin to fail.
New alternator was dead after 2 years, great!

Btw: aluminum radiator does a good job, thats right. One of the last things I have replaced.
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