GRRRR.....

[mdh157]

Finally got the Ambassador abt done. Project kept growing and growing! Ended up converting to 4 barrel and replacing numerous other things as well. Been running it and noticed two things....it doesnt seem to want to get up to operating temp, and despite changing the water 4 times in the radiator it keeps coming out muddy. Of course the thing that is gonna be a problem is the one that requires me to take the whole thing apart again.

 

[bluefury361]

Finally got the Ambassador abt done. Project kept growing and growing! Ended up converting to 4 barrel and replacing numerous other things as well. Been running it and noticed two things....it doesnt seem to want to get up to operating temp, and despite changing the water 4 times in the radiator it keeps coming out muddy. Of course the thing that is gonna be a problem is the one that requires me to take the whole thing apart again.

Glad to hear it's up and running Mark.
Sounds like a good chemical back flush is in order. Take the thermostat out and flush the heater core separate. Try to see if any of the core plugs show signs of leaking.
The longer a car sleeps, the harder it is to wake it.

 

[commando1]

Glad to hear it's up and running Mark.

I concur. Happy that another Rambler is getting saved.

Sounds like a good chemical back flush is in order.

I agree and as far as I am concerned I would use the most caustic chemicals legally available, Damn the EPA.
Careful though, that brown crap could be the heater core self destructing.

 

[mdh157]

I changed the water 3 times yesterday as well. Still muddy. One of those times included a bottle of blue devil. Ran the car for an hour, still running below operating temp but then it got even muddier. There is def some neglect here as the lower hose had a chunk of hardened dirt/rust in it when I took it off to replace it. I cannot get the heater valve to move when I change the temp control so I guess it's stuck/rusted in place. I guess that is my next project to be started this week, at least get it open so I can make sure the water is flowing through it and back to the pump. Removing the heater core is pretty simple on these so i will prob do that and flush it that way.

All the hoses in the rad and to/from the heater core have been replaced with new so it's down to the block and heater core to be holding decades of crud.

My concern is that this may be oil in the water as I just changed the intake but I don't quite see how that could occur. Oil dipstick looks good and so does the exhaust.

Agreed on the caustic chemicals Stan~

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Agreed on the caustic chemicals Stan~

I used that stuff on my 1968 Fury III when I got it in the mid 70's, followed the directions to the T, then a couple of years later all the core/freeze plugs started leaking. When the final straw plug went (DS rear cylinder head) I had to pull the engine and popped them all and still found plenty of crud in the lower block that I believe still held some of the acid flush that the rinse didn't get at eventually eating through the plugs.

On a good note, with the engine out and all the plugs removed, on the 318 the front (not side) and rear lower block plugs is that you can rod/rifle brush out the water passage real good.

I'd be wary of using a acid wash and I never used it ever again.

.

 

[Big_John]

I'd be wary of using a acid wash

^This^
I could see the core plugs/heater core/radiator not liking the acid.

I have heard of using dishwasher soap as a cleaner. I think it's Cascade or something like that. Really strong, especially using a couple bars in the radiator, but not acidic.

Removing the thermostat and disconnecting the lower hose and sticking a hose in the radiator will do a lot. Just gotta let it flow a while... In fact I'd do that as a follow up to the dishwasher soap.

 

[Big_John]

I googled and found this interesting discussion. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/cascade-dish-detergent-coolant-flush.192970/

 

[mdh157]

made some progress today. drained the rad and dropped the lower hose, took out the thermo. thermo was gummed up even though it is brand new and it was stuck open a bit. the heater valve is stuck closed, that explains the lack of heat. flushed the rad and block several times until both were clear. block took 12 pans of water.

the bad news is, the water I left last night was still muddy, had not settled.