TR4/4A almost have a good radiator..but...

[Dash]

Thought it wise to have the radiator checked before I stuck it back in so took it to a local radiator shop. Good news is , no leaks, bad news is the tech said it was probably between 50 and 80% stopped up. His knee jerk assessment was maybe rodents had nested in it since it has been sitting so long but we ruled that out cause all hoses were attached while it sat dormant.
When he shot a high pressure hose into it , it immediately overflowed from the filler neck but took a a few seconds for the water to exit the bottom. He said it should have come out much sooner within a second or two and the flow wasn't very strong when it did but wasn't convinced cooking would help much.
I don't know what the volume coming out the bottom should be or even how to test it. However, assuming it is indeed clogged, the fact that it doesn't leak at least gives me a reason to try and save it.
My question is, what could I pour into it that may help whatever may have it complugatized? I fear anything too strong would eat through the tubing and then it would be worse off than it is now.

 

[TR3driver]

Why didn't the shop rod it out?

 

[CJD]

+1...but a radiator shop should have suggested rodding! I assume he's afraid to open it up for some reason.



Here's what rodents will do inside a radiator!




And this view shows the ends of the tubes seen after the cap is removed. As you can see, the radiator accumulates every little shred of dirt and scale over the years. The only way to remove this is to shove thin "rods" down the tubes to clear the debris. Easy for a decent rad shop, but there is a risk that the tubes are corroded and may not stand up to it.



Finally, here is how a radiator shop fixes a leak in one tube, assuming the rest of the core is good. They block off the leaky tube with solder on both ends. You loose the tube, but save the core. But, in a badly damaged radiator there could be a dozen or more tubes blocked...and that is grounds to scrap the core.

 

[Dash]

I knew somebody was gonna ask that but it wasn't a very sophisticated shop and although he was a really nice fella testing it for free, he didn't seem to want to mess with it after that referring me to another shop he said may be better equipped to deal with it. Well that shop, I found out, no longer handles these old radiators so I decided to get some advice from you guys (thank you btw) and now go on the hunt for a more confidant tech.

 

[TuffTR250]

It's a ways to drive for you, but Sapps Radiator in Garner, NC is a very good experienced radiator shop. I had my TR3 radiator cleaned and repaired there and also had them repair and seal my TR3 gas tank.
Regards, Bob

 

[Dash]

Thanks for that info Bob..would that be Sapps Welding and Radiator on Mechanical Blvd? It appears to be just a little over an hour away..not that bad especially since they come recommended. I have a couple gas tanks that need work as well so I'll first make a couple local calls as a result of my research but looks like I may be taking a little road trip in the next day or two.

 

[TuffTR250]

Well Crum!! I see on the web that Sapps is permanently closed. Looks like they may have undergone a bankruptcy back in 2016. I recommend that you see if you can get them on the phone before you drive that far. I have tried to call them and just get a busy signal. Sorry about that!!
Regards, Bob

 

[Dash]

Well Crum!! I see on the web that Sapps is permanently closed. Looks like they may have undergone a bankruptcy back in 2016.

Yep I saw that..no problem, I found a couple places about 25 minutes away in Greensboro that look promising. I'll see what kind of vibe I get from them. Thanks anyway..
Dave

 

[Dash]

Thanks John for the pics and comments. I found what I believe to be a good shop to further check this thing but I'll be better educated a bit when they come back at me with stuff.