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Royal Ryser · 08-19-2019, 06:07 PM

Not a flathead but same topic. My 56 Thunderbird was heating badly after not being run for about 4 years. Before I found the problem, I did the usual. Flushed the whole system best I could, took out the thermostat, installed a new water pump, and checked the timing, all to no avail! So the I did what I should have done to start with. I removed the radiator and took off the top tank and tried to rod the tubes. I could only get the rod through about 2/3 of the tubes. So, I took off the bottom tank and worked on the tubes from both directions. Got all but 2 tubes cleaned out. Then, I bought some stop-leak just in case and soldered the tanks back on. No leaks! The car has since run cool as can be, with a t-stat installed.
I think I learned that the radiator was clogged up because I hadn't driven the car for a long time and the coolant had no rust inhibitor left in it. The block apparently shed a lot of rust over time, and clogged it up.

08-19-2019, 06:07 PM	#22
Royal Ryser Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 553	Re: Finally got it to not overheat! Not a flathead but same topic. My 56 Thunderbird was heating badly after not being run for about 4 years. Before I found the problem, I did the usual. Flushed the whole system best I could, took out the thermostat, installed a new water pump, and checked the timing, all to no avail! So the I did what I should have done to start with. I removed the radiator and took off the top tank and tried to rod the tubes. I could only get the rod through about 2/3 of the tubes. So, I took off the bottom tank and worked on the tubes from both directions. Got all but 2 tubes cleaned out. Then, I bought some stop-leak just in case and soldered the tanks back on. No leaks! The car has since run cool as can be, with a t-stat installed. I think I learned that the radiator was clogged up because I hadn't driven the car for a long time and the coolant had no rust inhibitor left in it. The block apparently shed a lot of rust over time, and clogged it up.