Radiator flush? 1970 318 w/ Air Challenger

[Glennster]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, BUT, I know my radiator has 12 year old fluid in it. I'd like to flush it myself, but, am I better off having it done at a shop. If it's possible to capture the fluids, I do have a local recycle guy that could take the old stuff. I HATE to have some one else work on my car!!!!
 I did the '' poor mans tranny flush '', if I could do that, it seems like the radiator flush would be a piece of cake.
Please give me a step by step '' how to '' on a radiator flush.
Is there an antifreeze/coolant that is better than the rest?
Thanks!!!

[bb71challenger]

Pretty car man. I think you are right, if you did a tranny flush this will be a piece of cake. I have always done the radiator flush and after that I always just keep putting regular water in it until it starts coming out clear. Then I drain it one more time and put the appropriate amount of glycol in it taking into account the water in the block. Good luck and if there is a better way I can guarantee that one of the guys here will post it.

[Chryco Psycho]

if you have access to a pressure washer I would blow it out in the reverse direction using medium pressure that way

[MEK-Dangerfield]

When you refill the radiator, mix distilled water instead of tap water with your anti-freeze.

[Glennster]

Sorry to sound so dumb, but I need a little more help. Do I just open the drain valve at the bottom of the radiator and push water through the radiator cap to flush it?
 I know I don't want to do this with a hot motor, is a slightly warm motor OK, or is stone cold better.
Is there a brand coolant that is better for old cars?
THANKS for the help!

[Moparal]

They make a rad cap that takes a garden hose on top. You can pull the rad top hose, stuff a rag in the hole, and turn the hose on. Take the thermostat out first. This can be done while the engine is running.  Water goes into the rad, pumps through the block and out the top hose. We did this at the track and had electric water pump drives for cool downs. We also had restrictor washers in place of thermostats, but it is the same princapal. 

If you keep the water pressure down going into the radiator, the thermostat will still open at temp and circulate the water.  This I have down hundreds of times without pulling the stat. So you can just put the garden hose in the rad top where the cap is run water in slow, have the upper hose pulled from the rad and let it circulate while running.

[hooD]

from the book....

[Aussie Challenger]

  I made a fitting for the top rad hose with a garden hose connector in it.
  This is the simple way, undo the top hose from the radiator and clamp fitting into top hose & connect garden hose. I then put an old radiator hose on the radiator inlet to direct the water down away from the motor, turn on the garden tap and watch the dirty water come out.
  You can also do the same into one of the heater hoses, try to put into exit hose first then fit to the inlet hose. Be carefull about how much pressure applied to the heater. I have had many heater cores almost totally blocked, they don't have as much water flow through them as the radiator and tend to get blocked & dirty.   
 I have also made a fitting like above that accepts air pressure but it is advisable to remove the thermostat.