I'm with you on the "clean it out at home", but I used muratic acid diluted two to one with water. I layed the radiator on the ground with the ports upward, fill the radiator with the diluted solution, and leave it for 10-15 minutes depending on how much it bubbled/outgases. Neutralize with backing soda and flush/rinse with water.
All that being said: anybody have a chance to look at the Mishimoto next to the Champion? I just wonder if they are heavier or better constructed that the Champions.
I would run a plastic tanked radiator in a gasser all day long, and I would probably run one in an IDI before I spent 8-9 times the price on an all brass version, but I wouldn't expect it to last forever. Most gasser radiators don't hold half as much coolant as an IDI. Go fill up an IDI radiator with water and you will find it's pretty heavy. Now put it in an old truck with very questionable vibration isolators and shake the **** out of it with a 20ish:1 compression to ignition engine and rock hard suspension.
All that being said: anybody have a chance to look at the Mishimoto next to the Champion? I just wonder if they are heavier or better constructed that the Champions.
I would run a plastic tanked radiator in a gasser all day long, and I would probably run one in an IDI before I spent 8-9 times the price on an all brass version, but I wouldn't expect it to last forever. Most gasser radiators don't hold half as much coolant as an IDI. Go fill up an IDI radiator with water and you will find it's pretty heavy. Now put it in an old truck with very questionable vibration isolators and shake the **** out of it with a 20ish:1 compression to ignition engine and rock hard suspension.