Real-Time Help with Road Trip to Florida

[Von Hayek]

Just got off the phone with a good friend who is the head mechanic at a big shop near my house, and he is pretty confident that by far the most likely cause is a clogged radiator. Agreement? Disagreement?

 

[justbecause]

i can never find part 1
par 2
par3
part 4

obviously this isnt something you really want to do in the field
but theres lots of good info and maybe you can rig something up to limp home without trashing the motor

 

[akbridge]

Good luck to ya. Overheating while towing could also mean a slipping tranny. But we won't go there. I would guess that the radiator is clogged. I will offer help to you if needed. I live in Lakeland (central FL area). If you need a place to swap parts, tool etc. let me know. I would be happy to give a hand. Just PM me if you want my contact info.

 

[tourboy]

I second the clogged radiator I had the same symptoms in my 105 series and everything else was spot on. rads are quite cheap these days and will last another 10+ years and help to save on HG issues.

 

[Von Hayek]

Well rats. I do hear a squeal from the transmission when I get on it, but I haven't thought much of it. The transmission fluid is fresh and full. Hope that isn't symptomatic of a slipping transmission.

 

[76FJ40]

Radiator cap ok?

 

[Von Hayek]

I think that I have a culprit. I drained the coolant today to change the thermostat, put my finger inside the filler neck, and pulled a finger full of black gook. I looked in with a flashlight and you can't even see the fins. It looks the previous owner tried a cheap fix for a leak and gunked up everything. Tearing the front of the truck apart now.

 

[Von Hayek]

Mission accomplished. Free flowing radiator = temperature friendly towing. Thanks for the good help folks.

 

[gjh]

Congrats, enjoy your Thanksgiving

 

[bkfj40]

good to hear that you are back into the cool zone!

 

[capt bligh]

I found local retailer here for my metal radiator.