Cleaning Radiator

[BryanL]

What are some suggestions to clean all the pebbles and rubber out of a radiator? I have used compressed air and the water hose which helped but there is still an awful lot left. Will the air conditioning coil cleaners work on the rubber? Should I powerwash it at a car wash? I would think that would be too powerfull and would damage all the fins. I see a radiator comb in the Jeg's catalog. Or do I just have to use toothpicks or a pick to take forever to clean everything out and straighten any bent fins?

[Rob Liebbe]

Drive it into a wall at about 46 mph and it will dislodge all that material back out the way it came.



Your welcome.

[y5e06]

I tried solvents, back washing w/ the hose, and even making my own plastic poking comb. Boy, was that tedious. After the first couple rows and blurry eyes I quit. Didn't really work all that well either. much of the stuff just jammed in there and didn't come out. not to mention the fins bent quit easily anyway (interior perforations), at least on my modified dirt track radiator.
After all that, I figured I rather buy another radiator and have it setup the same as try to clean it out anymore.
use some solvents and gently washing it out from the back side, if you need it cleaner than that perhaps a new one is in order. Others out there may be more patient.

[BryanL]

Drive it into a wall at about 46 mph and it will dislodge all that material back out the way it came.



Your welcome.

How about I just T-bone another car full throttle in 2nd gear?

Appreciate your experience Marshall. I have already thought that a new radiator might be the way to go anyway. But with all the stuff that has already come out I'm thinking it will go back to working pretty well or at least worth a shot before I get a nice drop in with oil cooler built in.

[GlennCMC70]

OEM replacements from O'rielys is around $120.

[Cody Powell]

OEM replacements from O'rielys is around $120.

Is it true that the lt1 radiators are better than the ls1?

[marshall_mosty]

How about I just T-bone another car full throttle in 2nd gear?

Appreciate your experience Marshall. I have already thought that a new radiator might be the way to go anyway. But with all the stuff that has already come out I'm thinking it will go back to working pretty well or at least worth a shot before I get a nice drop in with oil cooler built in.

Hey, how did I get in the middle of this???

I've tried the "easy off" oven cleaner route with a pressure washer from the backside. Didn't get too much out of it, but was worth $5 to try.

[GlennCMC70]

Is it true that the lt1 radiators are better than the ls1?

Better? not sure how. They are suposed to be thicker, but my bet is they are a one part number fits all deal now. I bet they found a way to make one PN fit all 4th gens to save manufacturing costs.
From the OEM, the LT1's are thicker. I wouldn't put alot of effort into that. if you need more radiator, get a $150 one from a dirt track supply and make it fit.

[mitchntx]

LT1 radiators have an extra port on the driver's side for the oil "cooler" or plumbed straight to the water pump.

[jeremiahkellam]

take 2 4x4's, spread them so you can lay the end tanks of the radiator on them, and bang it the 4x4s until clean. (This is a no bullshit answer provided by a champ who cares about his other racers, not like these other goobers...)