O.K. I’ve got the old radiator out of the POS Racer, what’s the best way to flush the engine prior to putting in the new (Bling, Bling) radiator? Want to try to get any yuck out of her before I put in the new radiator.

Can I pull the thermostat and flush the block? Is there a block drain plug on my ’84 13B?

Recommendations and suggestions are welcome!

Thanks,

 

You can do a better job flushing it if you put the old radiator back in. Run some cleaner in it a while, rinse it out good, then put in your new one.

Kerry

 

Well can’t really do that, the old radiator is lets just say “unavailable” for a return trip in the POS Racer. Would pulling the thermostat and flushing the system with water help? Is there a coolant drain on a 13B?

Thanks Again!

 

“unavailable”

Did I just hear gun shots?

LOL :p

 

The last owner(s) had JB Welded the side frames on the radiator to get it to stay put, once I broke it loose both side frames fell off!

POS Racer indeed!

 

Removing the stat and rinsing some water through there will help. Get as much of the loose stuff out as you can before you put the new radiator in. Hey, if the old one will hold water, just set it in there, maybe tie it with bailing wire. The hoses will keep it from going very far... at least long enough to flush the engine properly. I think I saw on another thread that there is a drain plug on the center housing(?) (My car has a drain, but I guess that don't help you very much )

Kerry

 

Before I got my new rad, I flushed the whole thing with hot vinigar and hot water. It seemed to break ALOT of **** loose in there. All kinds of white flaky **** came out. But it still didnt unplug the whole left side of the rad, so i had to get a new one.

 

Was yours overheating? I should have waited and flushed out the old combo, but I was afraid to let the car get as hot. So I just pulled the old one. Guess I'll just flush it with the hose and change the antifreeze in the POS Racer a few times, to help get the crud out. I was also concerned about using radiator cleaner in the coolant system, didn't want to mess anything else up with my attempt to clean it out. Is vinegar the way to go? What other coolant system cleaners can we safely use in our cars?

Were you headed for school? Saw your post.

 

Well I flushed mine out atleast 3 times. Everytime I did it, white **** came out of it. Then I got tired of it over heating, so I just said screw it and got a new one. The new rad I got also has a built in cooler on the bottom of it. But anyways, I think the person before me put some kinda sealer or something in it and cloged it up. The brackets were falling apart too. It was pretty much gone. Im going to go to school at TSTC in Sweetwater. Going for computer networking and programing. Its going to suck. I HAYE computers! Rather stay at home and work on my RX.

 

Naw, JimmyHat I had a buddy who went to TSTC in Sweetwater he loved it! It’s a great school. You’ll enjoy it think positive!

 

The 13B has a block drain plug located in the center "plate". It is right below the oil fill tube and dipstick, down near the bottom of the motor. I think it is a 14mm bolt with a crush washer to seal it. There was a good pic on this site floating around showing its location.