Radiator....Flush or new?

Greetings Forum Chums,
I need some input! The water pump in my 1976 Ford 231 self destructed the other day...Removed the pump and will get a remanufactured water pump replacement, as I don't at present have a press. Here's the question, what do I do with my 40-year old radiator? It looks to be in good shape...not scaled up.... doesnt look corroded .... should I take it to a radiator shop and have it flushed and pressure tested or should I not tempt fate and replace the radiator?..
or...Flush it myself??....Thoughts gentlemen?
 
Fill it with vinegar and let it sit over night or 24 hours or so. Then flush it out with the garden hose. Or even better install the new water pump then fill the system with vinegar the run it till good and warm let cool then rig up a way to hook up a garden hose to the block drain and back flush it. That way you will get the whole cooling system not just the radiator
 
Fastest way to ruin a good engine is to lose oil pressure

Second way to lose a good engine is to let it get hot,

While you have tractor apart have a proper radiator shop do a flow test if stopped up they can boil it out, rod it out,
It will be like new

if it's rotten they can tell, replace it, not worth losing a good motor
 

If it looks good with no corrosion have it flow tested and reuse it if it test ok.
My 69 4000 that I converted to diesel has the original gas radiator that's still doing a good job keeping the engine cool. My 67 5000 has original radiator with no problems.
My 72 4000SU is on it's second aftermarket radiator, the original was destroyed when the front of the tractor burnt from a shorted starter that caught the wiring and fuel tank on fire. The first aftermarket radiator lasted seven years before it started leaking from the cores, the second one has only been on for a year, so hoping it last for another 5-6 years but aftermarket stuff looks cheaper built with very little quality control anymore.
 
Was it running hot? If it's looks ok and wasn't giving you trouble then rinse with garden hose and reinstall. It is part of the same system yet totally unrelated to water pump failure
 
I have a 63 2000 and 65 3000, both diesels with OEM radiators. Last time I attempted to have a radiator flushed (JD) the radiator shop told me that the EPA regulations put him out of business in that regard. Not familiar with a 231, but if it's a diesel and no AC cooled cab then you don't need all that much radiator....in fact my 2000 only has 2 blades to prove the point......course maybe that's due to the fact that the radiator is also used in the 4000 with about 50% more power which has 4 blades.

I'll go along with the flush with your garden hose or better yet, if you are worried, get some Prestone flush and when finished ensure you include antifreeze with your refill. However, I would surely ensure that the outside is cleaned out good.
 

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