Cooling System Help......

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by Paul Stewart, Jun 29, 2018.

  1. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    OK, so a few weeks ago after a nice cruise I came out the next morning to find the upper radiator hose collapsed. The car was running a bit hot, but without a temp gauge who knows. So, I swapped out the thermostat for a 180 degree unit and purchased a new correct CARS reproduction radiator cap.

    Fast forward to the present. I purchased three Stewart Warner electric gauges. I have the Ammeter and the Oil Pressure gauge hooked up and running. I went to drain the radiator and after opening up the petcock wide open, the radiator is still half full?

    I am going to remove one of the plugs in the intake to install the SW sender so I can still have the idiot light as well.

    Before I button it all up, may I have another problem that I don't know about?????

    Thanks for the help!
     
  2. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    Fill the rad to the top and place same fluid in the overflow tank. The hose collapsed because the the rad was too low in fluid.
    If u lose fluid after driving, then u do have a problem - head gasket, warped or cracked head, etc.
     
  3. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    The car doesn't burn and oil or have any head gasket issues.

    I forgot to mention that when I drove it last before working on the gauges and senders it was VERY hot, near 100 degrees. After returning from a 30 min cruise, the car overflowed radiator fluid and the overflow darn near filled up. When I removed the radiator cap a few days later, the fluid level was VERY low, almost halfway down..................
     
  4. 1987Regal

    1987Regal Well-Known Member

    "I went to drain the radiator and after opening up the petcock wide open, the radiator is still half full?"

    So you drained the radiator complete,but realized it was still half full? If this is the case. I'm going to say you have a plugged radiator and the car is overheating causing your coolant to boil out. And that could your hose to collapse because it cannot pull coolant through. Maybe I misunderstood the comment. Josh
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2018
  5. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    The radiator won’t go below half full after opening up the petcock.........
     
  6. 1987Regal

    1987Regal Well-Known Member

    Has the radiator ever been flushed or cleaned? If it hasn't maybe you're due for that or a new radiator. Look into the cap opening with a flashlight and see if you have build up. If you're not sure what I mean the holes won't be open all the way they'll be partially shut causing overheating due to lack of flow.
     
  7. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Sounds like you need a good radiator flush out or a new one.
     
  8. Golden Oldie 65

    Golden Oldie 65 Well-Known Member

    Yup. Get the radiator out and have it checked, cleaned, or re-cored, the latter would be my choice. Go with a high efficiency core that will have more fins per inch.
     
  9. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart Well-Known Member

    I was afraid of breaking the petcock, but after a few more turns she was running freely late last night after the heat wore off, or did it? It was re-cored about 7 years ago, but there is some calcium buildup, what do you guys recommend to flush/clean? Good ole Prestone or ?
     
  10. 1987Regal

    1987Regal Well-Known Member

    Be honest I'm not sure on that, last time I had issues I bought a new aluminum radiator made by northern (that's who makes summit radiators). The original 3 core I had before was pretty bad on build up and I wanted to take it somewhere to have it boiled but no one around here does it anymore.
     
  11. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    If it overheats in 30 minutes you have trouble. If half the coolant is gone and you're not seeing a puddle then it's likely going out the tailpipe. Step one is top figure out what is going on with your radiator. Pull the lower hose and inspect.
     
  12. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    You can do a leak down test on each cylinder then you will know for sure if your head gasket is leaking. Easy to do you need a air compressor and the leak down device. It will blow water into the radiator and overflow if you have a head gasket leaking.
     

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