Top Half of Radiator hot, Bottom Half Cold?

[MrSony]

Also, the lower hose is near room temp, top hose is almost too hot to touch and is rock hard. This radiator arrived bent when i got it 2 years ago, and has been frozen solid once.
I never really put too much thought into it, but I'm pretty sure there shouldn't be half of the rad that is hot and the other half ice cold...
I think this would also explain my weird random temp swings and why my heater core plays a larger than normal roll in the cooling system.


What say you guys?

 

[TURNA]

Bad thermostat

 

[MrSony]

Bad thermostat

that the only cause?
the thermostat is new...
if you remember my thermostat gasket problems from last winter.

 

[TURNA]

looks like your still having them.

I said it before and I will say it again, I think some where you have a blockage.

What type of radiator cap do you have?

 

[TURNA]

Keep in mind the lower hose should be a bit cooler since the water has just run through the radiator.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I had the same issue. Is it a Mr Gasket high flow thermostat? It would flow at idle and close at higher speeds. I thought the radiator was plugged, it was not. It may have lead to it developing a leak. That rad is now plugged, thanks to two cans of stop leak. Now it barely cools my Olds 260. Try removing the Thermostat and driving it without one before condemning the rad. It may be marginal but it depends on how hard a Buick 350 is to cool.

 

[69hurstolds]

Anyone remember these? Hot side hot, cool side cool? Best of all, George, you don't have any burger shrinkage! MrSony has a McRadLT.

 

[MrSony]

looks like your still having them.

I said it before and I will say it again, I think some where you have a blockage.

What type of radiator cap do you have?

My guess is the blockage would be in the rad. The engine was thoroughly cleaned out by the machine shop, and me before assembly. I think the radiator being frozen solid with water in it crushed some of the bits and isn't letting nearly enough or any coolant flow.

 

[MrSony]

Thermostat is a new stant. 195*

 

[TURNA]

Type of cap?