Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

[Scott Liggett]

I decided to flush out the radiator with Prestone's version. I can see slime, like in a stagnant pond in the top. The instructions said to drain the radiator and then fill it with water, then their bottle of whatever. For a good cleaning, leave it in there for a few days. I did. Hasn't done shit for getting that crap out of the muck. So, I dumped a bottle of CLR in it this morning. Hell, they claim they clean brass and copper real good. Lord has it. A short drive later and the water in the radiator is now brown. I am draining it all out today.

Anyone else try this?

[milner351]

CLR is great stuff - don't see why it wouldn't work just fine inside an engine, radiator, trans cooler, etc.

[STINEY]

Just talked step dad in law into trying toilet cleaner to dip his root tiller carb in. It was seriously gummed up after sitting for 7 years....worked great and fired on the first pull. Second pull and it settled right down and ran nicely.

CLR is what I will use on my next radiator flushing.

[Scott Liggett]

I drained out the radiator this evening and brown shit colored water that came out was encouraging. Will refill the whole system with fresh distilled water and coolant. Will try to get block drain plugs out to drain the block as well. Though, the guys at work put them in with the most annoying sealant.

[Deaf Bob]

CLR= calicium, lime and rust... Makes sense..
Only qualm I have is ruining the water pump seal?
Just food for thought? Might be overthinking on my part...
Hope it is ok.. I wanna try it myself!

[Beagle]

foot long chisel and 10" vise grips, it's not like you're gonna re-use them?

[malc]

foot long chisel and 10" vise grips, it's not like you're gonna re-use them?

He said "drain plugs" not freeze plugs.

[Beagle]

He said "drain plugs" not freeze plugs.

ah. Okay, just the 10" vice grips then... and maybe a turner torch.

[Scott Liggett]

The car is officially up for sale.

I will continue to fix a few things. The engine is running great. the trans Thumper rebuilt wasn't down shifting into first, but a little hammering on it got whatever sticky part to start working again. It shifts firm, but not annoying under light throttle, but will hammer second gear around 5000 rpm in drive.

I cleaned out the shit in the radiator and put in a new 180* thermostat. I noticed my fan is too far into the shroud I have, from a 67 427 Impala. Yes, a rare piece. I found a fan spacer that is 1/2" shorter than the one I have on there. I will try that. Also, my fancy water pump doesn't move water hardly at all at idle. I am going to pull it off and pull the back off to check the impeller. See if the low paying assembler put it on backwards. I may just replace the pump. We will see.

[TheSilverBuick]

Good luck with the sale

[Scott Liggett]

After starting a shit storm on Facebook, I go out to the garage and for the fourth time in 10 days, I drained my radiator. I also pulled my water pump, pulled the back cover off of it to see if it was a reverse rotation. The impeller design was impossible to see the fins the way it was designed. So, I shoved a flexible pick up tool in the water port to feel which way the fins move. I pulled the lower radiator hose off the water pump and I still couldn't see the freaking impeller. What the hell is that about?

[Deaf Bob]

Secret squirrel stuff
Impellers cast or flat stock?
If flat stock, look to how they are formed for clues.
I'm thinking they are cast?

[Scott Liggett]

It is cast and circular to fit tightly behind the back cover hole. But, looking in through the lower radiator hose opening, it is completely set back out of the flow of water. I am not a water pump designer, nor have I looked in other ones, but this design does not look efficient.

[Scott Liggett]

I bought a stock type, heavy duty water pump. Put the aluminum one aside for now.



In prep for selling it, I am reinstalling the the AC system and will refill it with 134, like I did before I pulled the engine for rebuilding originally years ago. I was brilliant and removed all the brackets for painting back then, so now I had a puzzle to solve.


I have a few things to adjust, going to get all new belts as well. But, I got it all back together in the right place.


I dug out the pressure hoses as well.