The good old radiator

Dachristianman wrote:
My 92 Brave 454 had some overheating issues, and I went ahead and pulled the radiator. (As a note, it can be done without draining the A/C condensor). Anyhow, mine was caused by plugged fins, but since I had it out, a radiator shop flow-tested and pressure tested it. He ran it up to about 25 PSI just to see if it had any weak areas. It held the pressure. It wasn't flowing at 100%, but he did get it flowing better by using pressure and who knows what else. He didn't have to crack it open, and I didn't want to spend the $450 to have it recored. I'm back in business and no overheating. In fact, my clutch fan hardly kicks in any longer.

$50 and a day's work well spent.

Tom

I made a tool to clean the fins without taking the condenser off. I took 1/4 plastic tubing and drilled 1/8 holes in the end of the tubing radially around the dia. I plugged the end with a screw and put a std garden hose on the other end. The hose is about 3 feet long and can reach between the radiator and AC condenser to clean bugs and other debris from the fins. I was surprised at the buildup of stuff in between.