Poor Radiator floor- Help

[REByar]

Hi,

After trying many of the suggestions to correct my overheating problem I am down to the answer may be that my radiator is plugged. I have a 1930-1931 radiator. I run water thru it and it runs clean( have used many of the cleaners recommended here). I am looking for a shop in my area, up-state South Carolina, that can rod the radiator. Any suggestions? The other question I have is that I can look down the radiator spout and see the core. Is that normal? Many pictures show a baffle which to me would prevent you from seeing the core. I did try and put a thin wire down a few of the tubes and did not find any blockages. But I can only reach the tubes in that 2" area.
What I mean by overheating is that after driving for 30min at speeds of 40mph to 45mph the water starts to boil at the top of the radiator and runs out of the overflow tube. There is no steam coming from the top. I can drive for 30 to 45 min under 40mph and have no problem. I added a thermostat and that just made it overheat faster.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Randy

[30ccpickup]

Originally Posted by REByar

Hi,

After trying many of the suggestions to correct my overheating problem I am down to the answer may be that my radiator is plugged. I have a 1930-1931 radiator. I run water thru it and it runs clean( have used many of the cleaners recommended here). I am looking for a shop in my area, up-state South Carolina, that can rod the radiator. Any suggestions? The other question I have is that I can look down the radiator spout and see the core. Is that normal? Many pictures show a baffle which to me would prevent you from seeing the core. I did try and put a thin wire down a few of the tubes and did not find any blockages. But I can only reach the tubes in that 2" area.
What I mean by overheating is that after driving for 30min at speeds of 40mph to 45mph the water starts to boil at the top of the radiator and runs out of the overflow tube. There is no steam coming from the top. I can drive for 30 to 45 min under 40mph and have no problem. I added a thermostat and that just made it overheat faster.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Randy

Instead of boiling out you may be throwing it out. Next time it happens touch the radiator, it will be fairly hot to the touch if it is boiling out.

[Farrell In Vancouver]

It could be you are filling the rad too high. Model A's will find thier own level by venting excess out the tube. The missing baffle may well contribute to the coolant loss out the tube bit it should settle down. My cars all seem to operate about a 1/4" of water over the tubes. It could be your timimg is a bit retarded as well, this would cause the engine to run a little hotter especially at higher sustained speeds.
Keep trying, you will make her happy.

[CarlG]

I finally got one of those infra-red point & shoot thermometers. That's a pretty easy way to check the temp at the top of the radiator as well as the bottom. You can also find areas where there is no water flow, hence no cooling in that area.

Home Depot had them for about $30

[tim54889]

Randy, The one and only fix. Take the tank off the top clean out every tube. Or do all kinds of other things then take the tank off and clean out every tube. Check my post of 2 weeks ago.

[rocket1]

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you say the water is boiling out the top of the radiator? 212deg. is boiling,I doubt it,check the temp;probably overfilled and surging out.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Drop a ROOFING NAIL in the top of the overflow tube. "MIGHT" help some & be SURE your radumator cap is perfectly sealed!
In the meantime, search your area for a GOOD radumator repairman.
Bill W.

[REByar]

YES. Yes you could be right. I can hear the water bubbling which sounds like boiling. When I take the cap off I either see water surging and going into the overflow tube or I get stream coming out of the spout and the water is below the core. Either way I can see water dripping out of the bottom of the overflow tube. Does it not sound like the water is not fully circulating thru the radiator?
Thanks
Randy

[REByar]

Yes, I think I do need a radiator shop or expert to inspect and rod out the radiator. But I have not been able to find any in my area. Any suggestions? Most shops I spoke to do not want to touch a Model A radiator.

Shop recommendations??

Randy

[Larry Jenkins]

If you are using some of the older permanent anti-freeze, it can mimic a "boil-over" similar to a plugged-up radiator.

If you think your rad is reasonably clean, and you are using the old anti-freeze, try draining it, fill with clear water and see how this works.

If it does, there are newer anti-freeze solutions that will not cause your problem.

Larry Jenkins

[frank55a]

If you have not already tried it, add a 1 gallon of white vinegar to the coolant and drive it for a couple hours or so. If you had clear water drain before you might be amazed at all the rust, dirt and crap that you will get out. The only draw back is your car will smell like pickles for a while.

[rscardina]

My radiator is missing the baffle also. When I first bought my car, I would have some water seep out of the cap and run all over the hood. I found that the previous owner made a homemade gasket for the cap which was leaking. I purchased the radiator cap gasket kit, which comes with two gaskets (I have the hinged cap with a motometer). that stopped the water leaking from the cap, however, I continued to lose water through the overflow. I have since added the 160 degree thermostat that inserts into the upper hose and I extended my overflow tube up to the cap. I haven't had any issues since on a couple of short trips. I will check it on my next long outing and hopefully I will not have any more issues.

[REByar]

Frank55a
Yes. I have done this twice. Even let the vinegar sit for a few days. The first time the water coming out of the bottom of the radiator(I took the lower hose off) was dirty and did contain rust particles. But the second time I did it(because I was still having this issue) the water was nearly clean. Have tried store radiator cleaners and as others have said- they did nothing. I was wondering if I drained the system and let it sit for a few days empty, dry out a little then do the vinegar cleaning again if I would get more out. My thought is if the gunk dries out it will loosen a little. Otherwise I am either back to the rodding route or buy a new radiator. I would rather try and save the one I have.
thanks
Randy

[rscardina]

As mentioned above, you may want to remove the tank off of the top and rod it out. Then you could add a baffle. I may still have to do this to mine if the thermostat doesn't help. I've got my fingers crossed.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by rscardina

My radiator is missing the baffle also. When I first bought my car, I would have some water seep out of the cap and run all over the hood. I found that the previous owner made a homemade gasket for the cap which was leaking. I purchased the radiator cap gasket kit, which comes with two gaskets (I have the hinged cap with a motometer). that stopped the water leaking from the cap, however, I continued to lose water through the overflow. I have since added the 160 degree thermostat that inserts into the upper hose and I extended my overflow tube up to the cap. I haven't had any issues since on a couple of short trips. I will check it on my next long outing and hopefully I will not have any more issues.

The ROOFING NAIL-THE ROOFING NAIL!!!
Bill W.

[REByar]

Bill,
I did take your advice and put a roofing nail into the overflow tube. But water still got thru. It slowed it down a little. But in a 30 min drive I loose about a gallon of water. I know that because when I get back home it takes about a gallon of water(I use distilled water), to put it back to the same level.

[Mitch//pa]

sounds like u need a bergs

[1931 flamingo]

You've mentioned you don't have a baffle. Which direction does the top of the overflow tube face?? There was a service bulletin that said to carefully "form" the tube to the rear. Has this been done?? If so, install a short piece of wiper hose/fuel line to the o/flow tube to bring it up even with the top of the neck and THEN make Bill happy and install the nail. Fill the radiator til the liquid just covers the tubes.
It shouldn't make any diff whether you're running with water, distilled, water, anti-freeze, beer, etc.
Get back to us.
paul in CT

[REByar]

What is the best way to take the top off of the radiator?

Thanks
Randy

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by REByar

Bill,
I did take your advice and put a roofing nail into the overflow tube. But water still got thru. It slowed it down a little. But in a 30 min drive I loose about a gallon of water. I know that because when I get back home it takes about a gallon of water(I use distilled water), to put it back to the same level.

Rebyar,
I'd forgotten that you already tried the nail. Honestly, from here in my CAVE, EVERYTHING points to a plugged radiator. "Maybe" it CAN'T be saved & need to spring for a new one.
Chief, my Dad, might say:
Refusing to give up, is a virtue, only up to a point,
KNOWING when to give up, is the beginning of WISDOM!
Bill W.