renovating 2000 4x4 ext cab ranger

[jeremyctry]

2000 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0 with a 2" lift

My dad and I have been selling this truck back and forth to each other for 15 years now and the last time my dad was the owner my brother, sister, and my dads mechanic buddy caused some serious issues; blown heads, wiring harness is jerry rigged all to hell, rusty radiator, timing chain cover gasket is shot, the list goes on I've already replaced the heads and will be doing doing the timing cover gasket today. but I was wondering if anyone has a good way of removing rust from a radiator?

 

[straycat]

How bad is it? Maybe just find a good clean used one. Sometimes if they are really bad they have the top cut off and have it cleaned out. I have seen this a few times before many years ago. Then the top gets welded back on. Not too sure if they still do this anymore.

 

[jeremyctry]

I actually plan to eventually buy a new 1. The list of things I'm going to replace is as long as my arm though and I've used all of my play money for the month just getting my new heads. but they are so worth it the valve walls are 3 times as thick as the stock heads. I was really just looking for something to clean it out when I do my radiator flush. Its not bad enough to make the truck overheat or anything but I don't like it being there. I've heard about people using CLR and supposedly it works really well but I'm not sure if I want to pour that into my system.

 

[Andy D]

Try reverse flushing with hot water and CLR . The calcium , lime, rust remover.

 

[adsm08]

Try reverse flushing with hot water and CLR . The calcium , lime, rust remover.

Forget reverse flushing, just replace half the system capacity with CLR and drive it for a week.

 

[pjtoledo]

How bad is it? Maybe just find a good clean used one. Sometimes if they are really bad they have the top cut off and have it cleaned out. I have seen this a few times before many years ago. Then the top gets welded back on. Not too sure if they still do this anymore.

probably not. its much easier to remove the plastic side tanks.
to bad they almost always leak when re-installed and crimped.


Perry

 

[jeremyctry]

Forget reverse flushing, just replace half the system capacity with CLR and drive it for a week.

Driving it for a week with the CLR and water won't hurt the motor or radiator? I'm assuming you've done it before.