In one of the Imperials I purchased years ago, someone had pinched off half of the cooling tubes in the radiator, most likely to stop a leak. I replaced it as soon as I realized what was happening. At that time, it was possible to take the old radiator to a shop and have it recored. Most cars built in the last 20 or so years have disposable radiators that really can't be reconditioned. My experience has also been that these newer radiators don't last as long as the old ones.
---- Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Suggest that you remove the lower hose on the radiator
> and try filling it with the garden hose through the
> hole on the top.
>
> If it overflows at the top when the hose is going full
> current, then you have confirmed that the radiator is
> partially or totally blocked.
>
> Easiest way to find out if the radator is pluged is to run the car untill
warm then shut if of and run you hand over the fins and check for cold spots or
warm spots. If you find cold spots then you know it is plugged. > You can
remove a radiator and have it "rodded", where
> they remove the tanks and push a metal rod through the
> vertical water channels. Cost me $150 or so, and that
> was likely high due to the high rents around here.
>
> Have them pressure test it while they have it. If
> they discover a leak that needs fixing, that would be
> about right for a radiator of your car's vintage. Ask
> about recoring and compare to rodding for cost. A
> recored radiator with new metal beats a rodded one if
> you have the extra money to spend. That way you don't
> have to touch your radiator again for another 30
> years.
>
> Water pump is something like $40 and 1-2 hours, but
> unless it's leaking, it's unlikely to be "bad", since
> the shaft spins the impeller directly and leaks are
> the normal problem that causes replacement.
>
> You're rounded third here....
>
> -K
>
> --- jhplc@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> > Checked the radiator for hot and cool spots, and the
> > top is hot, the bottom is cold, which means either
> > the water pump is bad..(it's 2 years old), or the
> > radiator is bad, according to the repair
> > sections....any ideas on what it is..(don't want to
> > replace both!!)..need money for Christmas gifts yet!
> >
> > Jerry
>
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> Kenyon Wills
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