Radiator Repair

[Arnold Hite]

For years I've been nursing a poorly performing radiator. In the
hot summer months the car slowly heats up. When the temperature needle
finally edges up to the hot zone, I slow down to 45-50 and she begins to
slowly cool. If I stop and idle, she cools faster. I have flushed the
radiator, replaced the antifreeze, changed the thermostat, and added a
liquid to the radiator claiming to make it work better. None of this
seems to make a difference. I am convinced the problem is a clogged up
radiator.
I could buy a new one from one of our great venders, or I could
have the original rodded out. Any advice?

Arnold Hite
Johns Island, SC

 

[Mike Israel]

Hi Arnold,

Have you ever actually removed the radiator and
cleaned out the fins? I was shocked by how much
debris was in there when I removed my radiator. I
guess that it all builds up behind the fan over the
years. If you have not done so try removing it and
hit it with some water / air pressure. If not, could
be time for a re-core.

Mike I.


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[Marc Schlemmer]

Arnold,
Is the rubber good around the top of your radiator shroud? The piece that
is mounted above the radiator comes within an inch or less of the engine
cover when it's closed. The rubber along the top edge of that shroud should
seal against the underside of the engine cover, forcing air to come in
through the louvers. If not, hot air from the engine compartment will be
sucked into the radiator in addition to the cooler air from outside....and
that might be just enough to put you over the edge of overheating. I had
similar problems that you described and I did everything that you did. I
didn't think that the seal would really be that critical, but when
corrected, it made enough of a difference to keep Amphi running cool!

Marc Schlemmer

 

[Daniel & Kathy Gibson]

I had mine re-cored for a couple of hundred bucks locally. It has worked
perfectly with no signs of overheating (until one of the heater hoses
had a hole rubbed in it by the propellor shaft. D'oh!!)

Dann
'64 Das Boot

Arnold Hite wrote:
>
> For years I've been nursing a poorly performing radiator. In the
> hot summer months the car slowly heats up. When the temperature needle
> finally edges up to the hot zone, I slow down to 45-50 and she begins to
> slowly cool. If I stop and idle, she cools faster. I have flushed the
> radiator, replaced the antifreeze, changed the thermostat, and added a
> liquid to the radiator claiming to make it work better. None of this
> seems to make a difference. I am convinced the problem is a clogged up
> radiator.
> I could buy a new one from one of our great venders, or I could
> have the original rodded out. Any advice?
>
> Arnold Hite
> Johns Island, SC
>
>
>
>
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--

Daniel and Kathy Gibson
http://www.katestrackshack.com
"Kate's Track Shack -Your Internet Home For Inexpensive 8-tracks!!"
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[wayne miller]

maybe your sending unit is lying...??


Wayne A. Miller

 

[tommyintpa@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/16/03 6:47:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
ahite@Charleston.Net writes:
> I could buy a new one from one of our great venders, or I could
> have the original rodded out. Any advice?
>
> Arnold Hite
> Johns Island, SC
>
> Good morning all,
Arnold it would seem a properly rebuilt radiator would cool as well as a new
one.
Do check the oil cooler. They will be dirty most times if you don't clean
them every couple years and that will heat your motor up just as you describe.
The cooler hoses can (and should) be removed from the oil filter end. The hoses
on that aluminum oil cooler can cross thread and that will make you so sad. I
try to reinstall the oil cooler hoses to the oil cooler out of the car on the
bench so I can maybe NOT CROSS THREAD the connections.
Replace the cooler hoses if they are original and the rubber gazoonies that
the radiator rides around on if they have squished. Do that and follow the
other suggestions that have been offered on this wonderful forum and your car
will
be as cool as you are.
Good luck and may all your days be Amphicar days.
Tommy in Tampa
'67 Red - Corky
'68 Red - Weird Harold


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[a_colo_native]

Arnold,

My Dad had a radiator shop I worked in for several years and here is
my reccomendation. Pull your radiator, and have it boiled and
flow/pressure tested. Have your oil cooler flow/pressure tested too.
Clean the oil cooler out with some engine degreaser shot through it.
DO NOT BOIL IT! The oil cooler is aluminum and will not survive the
boil out tank. Then you can determine if the radiator is plugged and
needs rodded. (Chances are it won't need replaced) Then replace all
hoses and belts and check the engine mounts and all those things that
you can't see with a radiator installed. "while your in there"

Clean out the area and then replace your rubber seals around the top
of the shroud. For this go to your local Home Depot and pick up a 16'
garage door bottom seal and say thanks to Tommy for the tip. (black
rubber that goes along the bottom of the door to seal it to the
floor).

John