Radiator problem with 1968 Impala 307 engine

yadmas
Sun, 24 Sep 2023 21:58:41 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

So i have a 68 impala wagon with a 307. The radiator hasn’t been flushed in at LEAST 12 years. The vehicle blew a radiator hose and i got a look at the radiator fluid and i was like, oh dear lord, this is bad. I would refer to the color as “burnt umber mixed with blood”. I believe no oil is in the water thankfully. So i drained the radiator and flushed it several times and the liquid was no better. if u filled a 5 gallon bucket and let it sit a few hours there would be like a half inch or more of sediment. so i realized it was time to get serious and took off thermostat and disconnected hose at radiator and flushed block. then filled it back up, drove it and flushed it again. still dark dark red/brown. then i just started car with thermostat back in it, and would let it heat up, thermostat pops and gush’s gunk and i kept filling radiator and thermostat would close and reopen and gush. i did that like 10 times. No real change. then i went to O’reillys and got a radiator flush liquid. That did seem to help, it turned liquid almost black and tons more gunk came out. then i restarted cycle and flushed block like 15 more times like before, just standing there dumping water in radiator as thermostat popped over and over and over filling bucket after bucket. now its STILL dark red. but it at least looks a little clearer as it comes out. but when u look in bucket it is still fully opaque. Short question LONG, how long should i keep this up before i just put in some anti freeze and call it good? it seems like its never going to end. its insane, ive never seen anything like it. car runs like a dream when u drive it though.

38 posts - 11 participants