Never had THIS happen before...

[Bort62]

So as some of you may recall, I have a new 200 dropped into my ranchero and I am having problems with it overheating. It's not a problem with the fan because it happens on the freeway and while just generally driving around.

So, the radiator was new in the car just previous to killing the old motor so I was pretty confident it was good.

I went through all sorts of stuff, and I can't find the cause of the overheating. Checked timing, replaced water pump, added a thermostat, and everything.

But today, I decided to do a compression check to double-check the head gasket. Comp check came in fine. all the cylinders were pretty close to each other.

So I took it out for a test drive. I got a mile or two and I started hearing a coolant hiss. Ironically, the temp gauge was only about half way or so. A couple of seconds later I get this loud POP and steam is everywhere. I pull over to discover my radiator has come apart like a cheerleaders legs on prom night.

What the hell? I've never seen a radiator strait explode before. I am hoping that maybe there was something wrong with it that was causing my overheating but who knows - I guess I will get to try out a new one now regardless.

Any ideas?

 

[ludwig]

As long as the radiator's gone, take the time to flush out the block with a hose. In the interest of ecology, catch the water somehow down below. I'll bet you'll see a lotta stuff. Some of the guys here say they even get casting sand out of it. Just make sure you put the antifreeze back in when you button it up.


So how'd you do in the recent cold snap? Got down to 0* with wind chill in Palmdale a couple weeks ago.

 

[Bort62]

I think the lowest we got was about 17. I actually live in Tehachapi, so Im not sure if it was colder or warmer up there than down here.

I work in Mojave... but It was plenty cold here to make me glad I could go home to my heated apartment.

As far as the block flush, I will... but It was clean when I put it together so Im not expecting to find anything.

 

[grocery getter]

I've never seen that either. I would also go to a smog shop and see if there is a leak into the coolant system. it's quick and easy they just wave their wand above the radiator cap hole with the engine running.

 

[Bort62]

Well, doing that really isn't an option as the car is in boonies and overheats on the freeway.

Plus now it doesn't have a radiator

I don't think that combustion pressure leaking in caused it to blow... the coolant was boiling and Im sure the pressure from that is what did it. Altho I can't rule it out. When I said the gauge wasn't pegged... it was still high enough that the coolant would have been above its boiling point probably.


I just think the seam in the radiator let go. I am just trying to figure out what this might tell me about the overheating problems I have been having.

 

[JackFish]

Maybe a bad, or incorrect rad cap was my thought. At what pressure is it rated?

 

[Bort62]

Perfectly good and correct cap. 16 psi.

Thing is, i've been driving the crap out of this thing even with the overheating. I have to bomb it over desert roads a few times a week for work and it's great... as long as I only have to go a few miles

So if it was something simple like a radiator cap or otherwise, I would have expected it to happen a while ago.

 

[Anonymous]

I pull over to discover my radiator has come apart like a cheerleaders legs on prom night

ROFLMAO HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA hate to hear bout your radiator dude but that line sent me into histerics

 

[woodbutcher]

Tanks coming loose under pressure is nothing new.Have seen several in my buddies radiator shop.Plastic AND copper/brass.
Leo

 

[Bort62]

I think you mean hysterics.

 

[Anonymous]

yea that too lmao---i was laughing so hard i could barely type

 

[Anonymous]

maybe some crap got into the radiator before the 200 went in..backed it up like a grandma not eating enuff fiber...


sorry, yours was better

 

[pedal2themetal45]

you would think the cap would leak the prusher off befor the rad came apart??
Were you running anti-freeze? It could have been freezing up.
tim

 

[woodbutcher]

If a radiator gets old and weak,it will come apart before the cap releases the pressure.
Leo

 

[Anonymous]

So, the radiator was new in the car just previous to killing the old motor so I was pretty confident it was good.

new radiator...

 

[63redtudor]

My '63 falcon's original radiator did that to me when I was driving across the country. Split right on the seam. Luckly I was at a gas station. Several calls later & a VERY expensive cab ride, the car was on the road again. I now have a nice 3-row radiator that keeps the old girl nice & cool. The distance between the fan & the radiator is rather close (1/2" or so), but so far I haven't had any problems.
Edwin

 

[ludwig]

That happened to me on my Jeep. The seam let go but it didn't blow apart.