My first rebuild
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
what really irks me about them is that they are so fast, stock. One should have to work hard and spend thousands of dollars to be that fast.... not go from your hairdresser's appointment to the track to beat up on the poor Corvette. Seriously!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
So I checked for combustion fumes in the coolant tonight and all good there. Ugh! I have never watched a radiator flow but I think this thing is clogged. Nothing much actually coming through the thing at all. What is the flushing process and what works best on the corrosion? $300 for a new one is a little steep right now. Since the block was just rebuilt do I just need to clean up the radiator?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
As I said, Mazdas provide the necessary doors to be blown off.... of course this is all fun and games - I'm not prejudice, I have friends with those smiling cars - and they look fabulous
what really irks me about them is that they are so fast, stock. One should have to work hard and spend thousands of dollars to be that fast.... not go from your hairdresser's appointment to the track to beat up on the poor Corvette. Seriously!
what really irks me about them is that they are so fast, stock. One should have to work hard and spend thousands of dollars to be that fast.... not go from your hairdresser's appointment to the track to beat up on the poor Corvette. Seriously!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
So I checked for combustion fumes in the coolant tonight and all good there. Ugh! I have never watched a radiator flow but I think this thing is clogged. Nothing much actually coming through the thing at all. What is the flushing process and what works best on the corrosion? $300 for a new one is a little steep right now. Since the block was just rebuilt do I just need to clean up the radiator?
Your heat gun can be used to try to evaluate the radiator condition. Once the engine is up to operating temperature, you can shoot the radiator at different places and see if you are getting an even temperature drop across the fins/tubes, or if you have uneven cool spots.
Pete
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
With a new engine generating more heat until broken in, your radiator should be in good condition. A good radiator shop should be able to evaluate yours and clean it out if necessary. Back in the day, and maybe they still do, they could remove the end tanks and rod out the core, then solder the tanks back on if it was badly clogged.
Your heat gun can be used to try to evaluate the radiator condition. Once the engine is up to operating temperature, you can shoot the radiator at different places and see if you are getting an even temperature drop across the fins/tubes, or if you have uneven cool spots.
Pete
Your heat gun can be used to try to evaluate the radiator condition. Once the engine is up to operating temperature, you can shoot the radiator at different places and see if you are getting an even temperature drop across the fins/tubes, or if you have uneven cool spots.
Pete
I used the gun and it seemed consistent but tonight I was observing the flow from the tubes and found there was only a trickle and not coming from all of the tubes. I will have to find a radiator shop and have it checked. Any idea what rodding it would cost compared to a new one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
So I checked for combustion fumes in the coolant tonight and all good there. Ugh! I have never watched a radiator flow but I think this thing is clogged. Nothing much actually coming through the thing at all. What is the flushing process and what works best on the corrosion? $300 for a new one is a little steep right now. Since the block was just rebuilt do I just need to clean up the radiator?
(and aluminum) they're a bit wide, but still fit.... it's what I'm using in mine
or, if you still have an old guy who does radiators - have it "rodded out"... they can desolder the tanks then clean the core .... shouldn't be more than about $75 IF you still have anyone who does that (look for a/c shops, sometimes they still do radiators)
a good sign that the radiator is clogged is if the fins (as viewed through the fill) are red and fuzzy looking
so about that show car
Last edited by SuperBuickGuy; Feb 13, 2013 at 12:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
$100 for one that's close enough from Summit racing (and aluminum) they're a bit wide, but still fit.
... it's what I'm using in mine
or, if you still have an old guy who does radiators - have it "rodded out"... they can desolder the tanks then clean the core .... shouldn't be more than about $75 IF you still have anyone who does that (look for a/c shops, sometimes they still do radiators)
a good sign that the radiator is clogged is if the fins (as viewed through the fill) are red and fuzzy looking
so about that show car
(and aluminum) they're a bit wide, but still fit.... it's what I'm using in mine
or, if you still have an old guy who does radiators - have it "rodded out"... they can desolder the tanks then clean the core .... shouldn't be more than about $75 IF you still have anyone who does that (look for a/c shops, sometimes they still do radiators)
a good sign that the radiator is clogged is if the fins (as viewed through the fill) are red and fuzzy looking
so about that show car
You got a part number for that radiator? Mine are more white fuzzy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 379
From: Woodinville WA
check that - the radiator is on ebay - $161 on up with free shipping.... this looked interesting
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ROW-TRI-CO...d6adf7&vxp=mtr
I run electric fans on mine.... it's the only way to fly IMO
Last edited by SuperBuickGuy; Feb 13, 2013 at 06:31 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 86
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From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Well I have been trying to keep it under wraps (until fonished) but I haven't been able to drive it because 1. I have been worried about the whole hot problem and 2. I am in the middle of prepping for paint! Hahaha I was going to surprise you guys with a bunch of pix when finished.
My mom's tenant works for a top body shop here in town and saw the car and decided he wanted to paint it for me as a project. I got bumpers off, door hadles off and most everything else prepping it for paint. He is doing body work and painting it for free so I thought I better take the opportunity while it is available. We are hoping to be ready to shoot it around the first of the month.
My mom's tenant works for a top body shop here in town and saw the car and decided he wanted to paint it for me as a project. I got bumpers off, door hadles off and most everything else prepping it for paint. He is doing body work and painting it for free so I thought I better take the opportunity while it is available. We are hoping to be ready to shoot it around the first of the month.
What shop is painting your car?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Fatcat, you have to wait for the thermostat to open before you can see it flowing fast. If you rev the engine after its open you'll see the level drop in the radiator as its flowing, then when you let off the level will usually over flow out of the cap opening.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
I am going to put a new thermostat in this weekend and see what that does.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 209
Likes: 7
i love POR-15 products, its worth the money, i used their gas tank sealer on a motorcycle tank that was rusting from the inside out, two years later the inside of the tank is still like when i first sealed it AND with sitting full of gas the entire time too.
I don't what that stuff is, but it is ridiculously tough. After the leftover sealer dried in a seperate container, i couldn't even hammer and chisel it off.
I don't what that stuff is, but it is ridiculously tough. After the leftover sealer dried in a seperate container, i couldn't even hammer and chisel it off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 14
From: Milton GA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma