|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
06-17-2016, 06:34 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Hi Everyone, I've gotta do a cooling system flush. I'm looking for a clever way to force water upwards from the lower hose out the filler neck with the radiator in the car.
Car is a '35. Engine is a '37-ish block with earlier heads w/pumps in heads and blockoff plates. Radiator doesn't have drain cocks at the bottom. Sorta seems like a '35 small radiator but not certain. Pulled lower hoses to drain earlier this week. Hoses deteriorated from probably decades of oil dripping on them. I put them back on. New hoses coming. So I'm draining it again and looking for suggestions for flushing the radiator and if possible block. The debris seems like it may be from the hoses.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? Last edited by VeryTangled; 06-17-2016 at 07:20 PM. |
06-18-2016, 05:01 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,730
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Could you let it dry out a bit and get in there with a vacuum cleaner? You'd probably have to fashion some sort of small diameter extension pipe and keep bending it to shape. (Copper?)
A difficult one, that's for sure. |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
06-18-2016, 06:30 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,132
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
this is a "zoo" flush gun, there is a water valve, and the little lever is the air,put in lower hose, turn on the water, when full of water hit the air, a block can take more pressure,and full pressure, but with radiator it is best to not "hit" it too hard, the air forces the water to nove fast and carry out debris
I know the tool is not common now, but easy to make something like it, just some adapters to adapt hose to the garden hose nozzel, and a fitting---drilled hole for blowgun ---first start with reverse flow, after debris stop reverse direction----then reverse direction again till nothing comes out anymore |
06-18-2016, 06:30 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Tinley Park Ill
Posts: 1,053
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Disconnect the radiator from the engine block.
Fill the cooling system with vinegar, let it set. It is about Five bucks for 4 gallons at your local grocery store. Fill it up let it set for a few days I had to do mine four times. flush well after each treatment. I was amazing at all the crap that came out. |
06-18-2016, 06:31 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,132
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
wrong picture---this is flush gun
|
06-18-2016, 08:28 AM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland
Posts: 10,856
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
The first thing I would suggest doing is getting all those pieces of black rubber?? out of the radiator, then start doing the flushing.
__________________
John "Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein |
|
06-18-2016, 08:34 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 315
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
I filled the radiator and engine with vinegar and let it sit for 10 days, starting it from time to time. Drain it outside, it is a mess. Then I disconnected the lower hoses from the block and plumbed in 1 1/4 pvc pipe to the hoses. I used 2 ells and a tee with pipe to connect them so that the water goes in the tee and through the ells to the bottom of the radiator. I used a large water tank about 12' high so that I had a lot of water at low pressure but you could plumb the tee to a hose too. First I took the cap off and flushed the radiator then when it was clean I put the cap back on and back flushed the engine. I then reversed the lower pipes to the block and did it all again. I went back and forth until only clean water came out. It now runs cool maybe too cold sometimes in cool weather. Good luck.
__________________
The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Howdy Doody |
06-18-2016, 08:49 AM | #8 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Quote:
Quote:
36Bill, Any chance you still have that rig laying around? Can you snap a pic? I think I'm visualizing it, but you know, a picture tells a thousand words. My idea is I want water flowing upwards and eventually downwards through the radiator, then I'll move to the block cuz I'd be a fool to think that stuff is only in the rad! Thanks Kurt. That gives me some more ideas. Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions!
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
||
06-18-2016, 09:42 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lehighton Pa
Posts: 1,085
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Tangled,check eBay I see several used and new air assisted back flushers.I have used the vinegar treatment followed but a air assisted back flush to end my overheating problem on my 36. phil
|
06-18-2016, 09:54 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 5,762
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Don't know if this would work for your 21 stud but it works great for my 59A Check it out and see: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83557
__________________
Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness |
06-18-2016, 11:10 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 315
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Here are some pics of what I used. The first 3 show the pipes in front of my PU as it would sit in use. I didn't glue any as I had a low pressure water flow. The last shows the tank and most of it's connection, one ell and some radiator hose are someplace else. This is a tank for filling our sprayer on the farm but you could make something out of a barrel on a stand with a 1 1/4 pipe to feed it. A hose might work too, never tried it
Bill
__________________
The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Howdy Doody |
06-18-2016, 11:17 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: san antonio, texas
Posts: 461
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
seeing all that crud in the top of teh radiator, i would recommend some extra work and remove the radiator and take it to a radiator shop and have the upper & lower tanks removed and then the core rodded out. just flushing wont remove much of that stuffg that took years to accumulate....
|
06-18-2016, 11:21 AM | #13 | |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Quote:
|
|
06-18-2016, 02:12 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Consider getting some bunjy cord around the right side of the bottom pulley then up to the left pump then the revers on the other side .this will run the pumps back wards .( not sure if that would work though because of the distributor) ,The vinegar idea I am all for soaking it min for 10 days .I have used a vacuum cleaner with a smaller tube taped to it ,worked OK .Ted
Last edited by FlatheadTed; 06-18-2016 at 02:22 PM. |
06-18-2016, 02:33 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 315
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
donald1950, I thought the same thing, the problem is finding a shop that does more than putting in a new radiator. I had found one shop that said they would boil it out but when it came back there was no difference. I then tried the vinegar and flush and it works, cheaper too.
Bill
__________________
The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Howdy Doody |
06-18-2016, 05:17 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Posts: 726
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
If you can set up a back flush how ever. Maybe just cap of one lower spigot (frost plug in the rad hose?) Anyhow get water going in there from the bottom up and see what comes out. If that doesn't get it all, try a small brush with a twisted wire handle that you can bend, and gently massage along the top of the tubes. Most of that stuff will be in the top of the radiator. Do it while the water is coming up.
See how you go. The best result of course, would come from the top and tailing of the radiator. |
06-18-2016, 05:27 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Hi Again. THANKS EVERYONE for their comments and suggestions.
36Bill, excellent. That was almost what I visualized but I can see what you did will be much better! Thanks a whole bunch for the help. Also thanks for the air assist suggestions, will explore, I think I have stuff on hand to do that. I'm not sure what will happen with this car. So I'm trying not to take it apart for now. I haven't said much about it but I took it from the garage it's been in for 53 years. Wasn't looking for another car but it found me. Am concentrating on getting it running reliably to the level that I can within that restriction.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? Last edited by VeryTangled; 06-18-2016 at 05:34 PM. |
06-18-2016, 05:58 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,730
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
I took the bottom tank off my 33 rad and rodded the tubes out. Four pieces of 1/16" welding wire side by side should pass through the oval tubes.
Mart. |
06-18-2016, 06:38 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Hi All. Thanks Mart. I have some great welder guys owing me some favors so if the radiator comes out I'm pretty sure they could deal with the soldering and you've given me the tip on the cleaner. The tanks are soldered on top and bottom, correct?
Not taking this one apart until fall if at all possible.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
06-18-2016, 06:48 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lehighton Pa
Posts: 1,085
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
If it were mine I would take it to a radiator shop rather than trying to do it myself .Soldering the tank is tricky and they use a torch made for radiator repair. They also have a tank to check for leaks. Phil
|
06-18-2016, 07:04 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Thanks Phil. I respect what you are trying to tell me.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
06-18-2016, 10:11 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: san antonio, texas
Posts: 461
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
36Bill, the only thing i like about living in a large city like san anyonio tx is the access to the variety of vendors. have a great radiator shop here that has done many of my radiators. when i was in Napa Ca many times i had to go down to Oakland Ca to find someone that could do things....
as a transplant to the heat and humidity of south texas, i would never recommend leaving beautiful, green Oregon for any reason..... |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
08-20-2017, 11:25 AM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Hi Everyone, I found these in a pile of junk that I'd taken off the car. You can see the inside of the hoses, and the thermostats which were turned sideways in the upper hoses.
The system is working. I've been through about ten flushes. One time I put RuSt911 through it for 24 hours, THAT took out a lot of rust. Some rubber is still coming out.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
08-20-2017, 07:08 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
When you are done try these if you can find them, they fit in the upper radiator hose[s] inlet to the radiator . I use them and they help, never caught much in the flathead but my Y block usually has crud in it when I change every two years.
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!" |
08-20-2017, 08:48 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Cool Talkwrench, I already have 'stats in the top hoses, correctly positioned I'll add, so I'm not sure how those would fit too, but I love the idea! Any leads on a supplier?
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
08-20-2017, 08:52 PM | #26 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,247
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
08-20-2017, 09:21 PM | #27 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
It makes it difficult with the thermostats being in that spot.. and as to a lead in supplier I cant help as I am in Australia and I just order through my parts supplier if I need them.
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!" |
08-21-2017, 02:02 AM | #28 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Coast NSW Australia
Posts: 2,596
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
Quote:
Kudos to you. |
|
08-21-2017, 07:52 AM | #29 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
That idea was something I tried to adapt. Here's what I came up with. I asked to go to the back of the auto parts store and look over their radiator hoses. I picked one that would let me attach this rig to the lower hose of the radiator and forced water in the PVC. What I found was while I could get good flow up through the radiator with the combined tubes, I couldn't get enough force to lift any gunk off the top of the core tubes and out the neck.
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
08-21-2017, 04:50 PM | #30 |
Senior Member
|
Re: 21 Stud Coolant Flush Tips & Tricks Needed
I am just doing a Vinegar flush, I will let you know how I go ,I have the Radiator isolated with plugs ,
Last edited by FlatheadTed; 08-21-2017 at 11:01 PM. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|