Well…I have started the coolant system flush. I will post some more pictures tomorrow. I am only about half way done. But wanted you to see what came out. This result is only after just draining and running water though the system. I have not added the chemical flush yet. I have to get as much of the old anti-freeze out.

Result: Initial drain and 1 water flush. This looked green in the radiator….but as you drain a brown tint begins. There were some little specs in the coolant, but not bad. Took picture at night so it does look darker, but it is brownish.

Result: 2nd and 3rd Water Flush.   

As you can see there is progress. Its less green and more brown, coming out, so there is definitely less antifreeze in it. . I also figured out that the heater core…..(where heat inside comes from) must be somewhat plugged. Common with one this old. So I by-passed it. After that I was able to get better flow and the water coming out was a better color.

Result: 4th and 5th Water Flush

Getting better This was shot in the daytime so it more to the actual color of the water. 

Result: 6th and 7th Water Flush

Ok….I think its now as best it can be with just water. These last two pics are in the daytime with no flash, so the water coming out looks pretty good. I have the chemical flush in now. I have ran the truck for about 1 hour on three days. I will be draining the chemical flush out tomorrow. If it gets out more junk and looks bad I bought two chemical bottles and will do another. If it does not take much out I will be done.

Just some notes on what I did. To get to this point.

Draining…Below, is the water coming out of the radiator into the bucket. Slow process it takes about 45 minutes to drain the radiator. Then I have to let it cool.

The whole system holds 4.3 gallons. I was only able to get out about 2.5 gallons on each flush, due to the slope of my driveway. So there is always some left in the engine. A dealer or professional will do a flush under pressure to get it all out. 

After noticing that I was not getting a lot of flow at the radiator after the 2nd flush, I assumed the Heater core was clogged. So I bypassed it. I also took out the old thermostat…..cleaned up the manifold and put a new housing on WITHOUT the thermostat. This will increase the flow inside the engine to full without waiting.

(Note) The thermostat does not keep your car from over heating if operating properly, the radiator does that. It actually does two things. Gets you car up to operating temp faster, and is supposed to keep the temp there. My engine in my truck has a operating temp of 195 degrees. So, I have a 195 degree thermostat in it. Right now with the thermostat out….I am running about 165. Of course if the thermostat is stuck and never opens….yes you will overheat due to the minimal amount of coolant flowing though the engine.

Here is a pic of the new one going back in my truck when I have completed the flushes and new radiator and heater core are installed. Notice, it says on it….195 Fahrenheit. So, always get the correct temp thermostat for your application. Leaving it out….getting a lower temp one is not wise and myths abound out there that doing these things in beneficial. They are not.

Below is where the thermostat’s home is. The old one is shown before I took it out. Someone had used gasket material around it so it would not leak. Common practice and there is nothing wrong with it, until you have to clean it off. IMO….use a gasket. Much easier to clean off. (Will show you that later when I install the new thermo).

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This is what the inside of the radiator looked l like. When doing a flush you want to see flow in the radiator. It should flow down from the top. Tried to get it in the shot, but camera won’t pick it up, its too dark in there. 

This radiator will be replaced. But flushing the engine is the real goal of all this. 

Flushing complete. Here are the final steps of the flush.

After Chemical Flush (Below)

The one on the left is the chemical flush. This went in the same color as anti-freeze does, so it looks green again. Then I ran two more water flushes, the right bucket.It did get some more brown stuff out, so the chemical flush did work and get some more junk out. It said it would be able to remove oil residue and leftovers from having antifreeze in it. But, it smelled a lot better, more like water.

This is the last water flush. (Above)

It still looks a little brown, but in a clear cup it looks a lot cleaner. Plus it smells just like water with no antifreeze or chemical smell at all, just smelled like warm water.  I am not sure I can get it any better, this water is going though a 39 year old radiator and engine. I also don’t think another chemical flush will do any more good. 

Some more stuff……

This is the old heater core which I think is semi-clogged up inside…..but Check the leaves out. This will all get replaced. I will post later when I get the other piece of this contraption out. Someone cut it in two.

This is how it works. When you turn the heat on inside the cabin, a fan will blow air though this little radiator so you get heat inside the car. The lever at the bottom is what opens a small flap to let the heat in and to regulate it if you just want warm air. The new one should look a lot better. 

Sourcing parts for the new radiator and mounts. Having a little trouble finding a radiator. Got one and it did not fit, so I am sending it back. I have another one ordered and hopefully it will fit. This one is made in America not China. 

Will update.