Radiator Rodding Out

[ursus]

Originally Posted by burner31

You can still find old school radiator shops, look in the older/seeder parts of town.

Old school radiator shops are fast disappearing in these parts. I suspect that the labor cost associated with dismantling, rodding out, and resoldering would make purchase of a new radiator the better option.

I still want to save this radiator, which is out of the car while the engine is being rebuilt, mainly because of its original appearance - curvy fins and all. I do have a couple of junk radiators to practice on and will make a go of this project. Thanks to all for the thoughts and suggestions.

[Jacksonlll]

Let us know how you make out. Most of us have or had this problem.

[Gold Digger]

I know of a couple of guys that used lye to clean there radiator's with while still on the cars but one of them let his boil over and it took the paint off. They both said it cleaned the radiator's real clean.

[TerryH]

I had my radiator rodded many years ago, and was told then to find someone who is experienced at it. I found an older gentlemen who had retired, but still repaired radiators out of his garage shop. Mine had about 25 tubes clogged and he was able to clean out all but 3 or 4, and my radiator then cooled just fine. If it is truly clogged rodding is likely the only way to successfully clean it.