 
Main Menu
|
|
Nevada Classics
|
|
Advertise at CC
|
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| |
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
| 10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
| 24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
|
CC Advertisers
|
|
02-19-2009, 01:14 PM
|
|
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Chandler,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 278
|
|
Not Ranked
Getting rid of insect remains in radiator?
I was walking out to my car today in the parking lot and the sun was just right, shining on my radiator and it looked disgusting! Bug guts all over the place in my radiator (see below). I have an 1800 psi power washer I was thinking of using on it but didn't know if that might damage the radiator fins, or just blow the bug guts through the radiator and onto my engine and frame, or worse yet just lodge the bugs deeper into the radiator fins. Anybody have a good technique of getting bug remains out of the radiator? Anybody tried a power washer?
__________________
-Sandy
|
02-19-2009, 01:22 PM
|
 |
CC Member/Contributor
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Greenville,
SC
Cobra Make, Engine: 70 Shelby convertible, ERA-289 FIA, 65 Sunbeam Tiger, mystery Ford powered 2dr convertible
Posts: 12,687
|
|
Not Ranked
Get yourself a wheel brush, wait for the radiator to cool, brush up and down and gently across.
Bill S.
__________________
Instead of being part of the problem, be part of a successful solution.
First time Cobra buyers-READ THIS
|
02-19-2009, 01:25 PM
|
 |
Half-Ass Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 22,001
|
|
Not Ranked
Perhaps a Water-Pik?  |
02-19-2009, 01:27 PM
|
 |
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Celebration,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance #2144 with a Roush 342R (sold June 2018, but still lurking on Club Cobra)
Posts: 128
|
|
Not Ranked
First, I soak the bug residue to soften the remains (a combination of soap and water works well). Then I gently scrub the remains with a soft bristle brush. Takes a little effort but minimizes any risk to the radiator.
To take it a step further, I had my local ACE hardware store fabricate a screen to cover the exterior of the radiator. Cost $23. Fastens with Velcro, which makes removal easy. This approach makes it much easier to clean and helps protect the radiator from bugs and small debris.
|
02-19-2009, 02:15 PM
|
|
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,078
|
|
Not Ranked
Shop vac with brush attachment-NO POWER WASHER.
__________________
Chas.
|
02-19-2009, 02:20 PM
|
|
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Jacksonville,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham #570 w Shelby FE
Posts: 1,009
|
|
Not Ranked
180MPH for an extended period of time should force them the rest of the way through...  |
02-19-2009, 02:38 PM
|
|
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Gray,
TN
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft 342 Stroker, 400hp
Posts: 189
|
|
Not Ranked
Go your your auto repair shop and take a air hose and blow them out from the engine compartment, this sends bugs out the way they came in and doesn't further lodge them in the cooling fins. Then get a piece of door screen and cover the front of the radiator securing around the mounting bracket, this eliminates bugs and small stones from getting to the fins. Doesn't affect cooling either and can be removed to clean
|
02-19-2009, 03:37 PM
|
 |
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Goshen,
ny
Cobra Make, Engine: Gary Edwards Racing 460
Posts: 444
|
|
Not Ranked
Get the bug screen, velcro it on. Best $40 you will spend.
Pop that thing off after a buggy ride, run a hose over it with a wheel brush BAM 5 minutes you are good as new. Its almost impossible to clean the radiator without bending those fins.
BTW another way to eliminate the bug problem is to drive in 40 degree weather like I did today 
__________________
Its not the will to win that matters....Everyone has that. Its the will to prepare to win that matters.
|
02-19-2009, 03:47 PM
|
 |
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Valencia,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR #89, KCR aluminum 427 windsor
Posts: 322
|
|
Not Ranked
... squirt bottle of water & an old toothbrush does me just fine...
__________________
R. Smith
Santa Clarita, CA
BDR #89- KCR aluminum 427 windsor, TKO-600
|
02-19-2009, 04:12 PM
|
 |
Senior Club Cobra Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: ione,
ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #1473 392 cu.in. titanium/black stripes
Posts: 945
|
|
Not Ranked
Ditto C. Battaglia...That is the system I use and it works great. Can't say enough good stuff about the simple window screen and velcro.
__________________
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
|
02-19-2009, 09:58 PM
|
|
CC Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Chandler,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 278
|
|
Not Ranked
Thanks for all the helpful replies. I tried the easiest method first and it worked great, see before and after photos below. I let the radiator cool then used a brush attachment on the shop vac to get the easy stuff off first. Next I used a nylon bristle brush I got at the home center to carefully brush off the stubborn stuff by going back and forth and up and down. I then used a crevis tool on the shop vac to clean up the debris that had fallen off the radiator and collected at the bottom. Finally I used a small pin to straighten out a few of the fins that got bent by bigger bugs. Sweet.
Before:
After:
Tools used (except the pin):
__________________
-Sandy
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:06 AM.
Links monetized by VigLink
|
Linear Mode
