Radiator Blown?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Radiator Blown?
Hi all,
Working out some kinks in my new small block 427 engine in the '71. Originally noticed some steam coming out around the upper rad hose, progressed to some drips and getting worse fast. Unfortunately not the hose connection like I thought originally- starting to come out the front of the rad now. It's the original radiator. It was out of the car over the winter but not damaged as far as I know. I've had a high volume water pump on it for years- discovered there was such a thing as a high flow thermostat over the winter and threw one of those on.
Is it possible the new thermostat removed resistance to the hi flo pump and extra pressure sent the rad over the edge? Kind of a strange coincidence the rad would go as soon as I got the new engine running.
Second question- is it possible to repair these original Aluminum rad's? Or would it be worth it? Probably go straight to DeWitt's if the old one can't be salvaged. Thanks for any help.
Working out some kinks in my new small block 427 engine in the '71. Originally noticed some steam coming out around the upper rad hose, progressed to some drips and getting worse fast. Unfortunately not the hose connection like I thought originally- starting to come out the front of the rad now. It's the original radiator. It was out of the car over the winter but not damaged as far as I know. I've had a high volume water pump on it for years- discovered there was such a thing as a high flow thermostat over the winter and threw one of those on.
Is it possible the new thermostat removed resistance to the hi flo pump and extra pressure sent the rad over the edge? Kind of a strange coincidence the rad would go as soon as I got the new engine running.
Second question- is it possible to repair these original Aluminum rad's? Or would it be worth it? Probably go straight to DeWitt's if the old one can't be salvaged. Thanks for any help.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
If it is the original radiator I would be placing a call to Dewitts and would not bother to try and fix the old one. Your cooling problems will be a thing of the past with Dewitts radiator.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Got an original replacement on its way as of this a.m. from DeWitt's. Apparently a very good radiator to start with. The new 427 sb *was* running cooler than the old 350 ever did with the 16" Spal fan I just put on it- until the rad blew. DeWitts reccomends the same combo for hot rodded small blocks. Although their mounting bracket seems to cover a significant part of the core- the universals I used don't block anything, and without the corrosion I probably had in the old original- hopefully the system will kick butt. Thanks for the help.
