DG'sVette

OK. I've searched the forum & found many ways people have cleaned all the debris out between the radiator & condensor.

The easiest seems to be using a shop vac entering from the passenger side getting the debris between the radiator & condensor.

Does this really work?

Is it that easy?

How about after cleaning with the shop vac run some water between the radiator & condensor?

95, LT1, Auto

bogus

I can't see how you are going to fit much of anything inside that space.

I would remove the cover, remove the radiator and do it right.

Also, get a radiator comb to clean up the fins on both the rad and the condensor.

runner140*

I have a 1996 and use a shop vac every few months. The small opening on the passenger side, seems like about an inch and a half, I opened up about a half an inch. Now the 2" space is more than enough to get a 1 3/4 pvc pipe into. Make sure you cut a sharp angle on the end that you use for the cleaning. It should be more that a 45 degree angle.

Mr Mojo

Remove the rad, that's the only way to completely clean everything.

UWEBABY

Bogus, Ive Got A 95 And There Is A Good 2-1/2 In Space Bet The Rad And Condensor, Plus There Is A 1-1/2 In Access Hole On The Pass Side For Vacuming And Brushing. Ive Got A Refrigerator Brush That Fits.

ShawnZR-1

You have no idea how much stuff gets CAKED in the fins! Look:




That was my radiator, after 6 hours of cleaning and straightening the fins, the car ran 15* cooler across the board and the second fan never kicked on unless I turned the A/C on!

There's no other way to clean it out except to remove the radiator and clean the crap out of it!!!

pwrful c4

To do it right remove the radiator and clean it good.

jackdaroofer

Whoa

That's unbelievable! You may hold the record for the most crap ever photographed in the Rad cavity

You can seal off the area with some house door weatherstripping (1 inch wide, 1/4" thick foam, doubled up) placed under and around the AC condenser, that's where most of the crap gets in is under and around the AC condensor. I have used this method with some success

seeya

okies93

whoa!!! that is a bunch of crap....now i am troubled and will have nightmares until i yank mine out

UWEBABY

Jeez Shawn, Were You Following A Hay Truck Across Country?

rick lambert

I just pulled the radiator schroud and did mine-nasty-but not as nasty as yours

cv67

ShawnZR1-Jeebus! Looks like you drove through a 12 foot tall pile of woodchips!

Aquaman92

Wow that a load of crap do you do a lot of off road driving

LaVidaLoca

I agree with the "pull the radiator" crowd


You need to blow out the fins and inspect them. The surface trash is only a part of the problem. A lot of small stuff gets caught inside the fins and you can't see it. Once you have the shroud off the top you have done the hard part. Just pull the two hoses (and two transmission lines if automatic tranny) and lift the radiator out.

BTW; once you have it out, replacing it is only about $160.

Lichen

With the radiator out, be sure to blow out the AC condenser. I may look clean, but it's amazing how much hair, dust and other small crap accumulates in there. Did mine last week and now I have ice-cold air.

upon2

I AGREE pull the rad...wash out the a/c cond from the inside ..out whole job should take couple hours tops ..and..it WILL be worth the time and effort.

ShawnZR-1

Trust me, I nearly !!!
That was on my '92 after about 90K miles (I assume it had never been cleaned before).
Most of that was decomposing leaves and pine needles. In between the fins there were the tiniest pebbles or something very hard. It took forever to clean them out. Had I known, I may have just bought a new radiator!

Togo

guess i have my day planned out for sunday then!

99svrcpe

I thought I had mine clean until I pulled it only to discover over 1/3 was still full of debris.