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1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

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Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

I need to get the radiator switched out, it is leaking pretty bad! I have the replacement, I will get the lower hoses tomorrow and my friend is coming to help change it out on Thursday.

Never done a radiator before!! Any advice?

1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

You can see the drips under the front bumper! I really need to get that sorted....

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

I always make a mess changing a radiator. There's more coolant than you think, and it is tough getting all of it. It'll hide in the radiator hoses, especially the lower one. And the drain petcock will leak and/or dribble.

So drain it the best you can. I like to use a 5 gallon bucket to drain it into because it has a wide mouth, which catches most of the dribbles. But the petcock is going to put it onto the radiator support, which will run all over the place, so I like to have a hose handy to wash things down.

I've tried placing a small hose on the petcock, but it didn't help much. And sometimes debris in the coolant partially plugs the petcock, in which case a wire may help clear it.

Then when you have the radiator drained as best you can remove the lower radiator hose. And be prepared for coolant to be hiding in there.

If your coolant is new, meaning w/in the last year, you could reuse it. But given the debris you'll find in it, and the short two year life of the additives in coolant, replacement is the best bet. But the system won't take as much as you think it should on the first go. That's because it'll be full of air. And getting the air out takes time. I like to fill it up initially and start the engine with the radiator cap off. Some times you'll see the level go way down and you can add more coolant. But, as the engine gets warm the level will come up and then its time to put the cap on.

Now you need to do several cycles of warming it up and letting it cool, all the while making sure that the coolant recovery bottle has plenty of coolant in it. As it warms up it'll push coolant into the bottle, but as it cools down it'll pull it back, so you want to make sure it has enough so that it never pulls air back.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

1986F150Six

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

I have placed the catch pan under the bottom radiator hose and cut the hose [sacrifice] on the bottom and just walk away.

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Thanks Gary.

I have new coolant and a new radiator. The hoses have been ordered. All I need now is some distilled water and a beer!

I think the existing coolant is junk. So I will replace with new coolant and distilled water. I am sure this will make a giant mess! Kinda looking forward to it :)

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Yes, I've also "slit the throat" of the lower hose. But some hoses are hard to cut, and then some of them come right back where they were and it drains so slowly.

If you are replacing the coolant there's the question of what to do with what's in the engine after draining. I don't recommend that you try to remove a block plug. They don't come out easily and might break off or strip out.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

1986F150Six

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gsmblue

Gsmblue wrote

Thanks Gary.

I have new coolant and a new radiator. The hoses have been ordered. All I need now is some distilled water and a beer!

Does the beer lubricate the water pump?

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

A friend suggested I put the old coolant back in and drive straight to Jiffy Lube where they can do a flush and get all the stuff out...

Does not sound like a terrible idea. The local Jiffy here are a good group.. They get scared when I pull up in my Bullnose trucks! But they always like seeing the progress!

And the beer is for me. Definitely for me. Maybe more than one!

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

I wouldn't put the old stuff back in as you'll probably have a lot of gunk in it. Especially since some of it will run across the radiator support before finding its way into the bucket. So, if you are going to have it flushed just fill it up with water. That way it'll be partially flushed just from that.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

1986F150Six

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

And carry the old coolant with you so it can be properly disposed of.

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Great advice from both of you there!

I think this is the route to go for sure.

Thursday night will be replace it all, then Friday will be a lunch time trip to scare the guys at Jiffy Lube!

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Looks like a plan, and that a good one, Stan.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

1986F150Six

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Gary Lewis wrote

Looks like a plan, and that a good one, Stan.

Paul Simon?

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Hmmm, I'm not sure which one that would be. What came to my mind was:

I said hey Senorita that's astute
I said why don't we get together
And call ourselves an institute

But what am I missing?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Gsmblue

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Progress today:
Tachometer works!
So does the seat belt buzzer!! Dirty dash connector seemed to be the culprit for both..
Fixed the short issue, the connector by the driver side seat belt inertia real was a a mess.. all sorted.
Map lights work! Prob due to the connector mentioned above!
Reinstalled the stereo so it doesn’t rattle. Also sorted out the equalizer so it sounds decent now!
Lubed window seals
Went to car wash so it is all clean!

Ordered a bucket load of interior screws black and chrome... I am sick of all the rusty screws! Going to change them all out!

Ordered the correct NSS.. although I am thinking I can prob adjust this one....

Thursday is the big day... radiator day....

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Progress! You are on a roll. And tomorrow will go well.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

1986F150Six

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

Hmmm, I'm not sure which one that would be. What came to my mind was:

I said hey Senorita that's astute
I said why don't we get together
And call ourselves an institute

But what am I missing?

There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover
Just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan

https://www.bing.com/search?q=paul+simon+50+ways+to+leave+your+lover&form=PRHPCM&pc=CMDTDF&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=ccee6e9328504206ac6c80f1a8eea3c9&sp=1&qs=HS&pq=paul+simon+50+ways+to+&sc=6-22&cvid=ccee6e9328504206ac6c80f1a8eea3c9

Gary Lewis

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Administrator

Oh, that one!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Steve83

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Banned User

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

I try to wash the engine bay before starting so there's very little "gunk" to get on me, or in any fluids I'm draining (and might like to re-use). These are helpful tools for recovering coolant:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P0XMBO
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797MF37S
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012RW8PZK

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1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

I said hey Senorita that's astute I said why don't we get together And call ourselves an institute

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

I said hey Senorita that's astute I said why don't we get together And call ourselves an institute

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

Re: 1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

I said hey Senorita that's astute
I said why don't we get together
And call ourselves an institute

I said hey Senorita that's astute
I said why don't we get together
And call ourselves an institute