65 2A radiator + fuel issues

Hey Team…. First post, thanks in advance!

I’m working through getting me old 65 back running and have a couple of issues I’m looking for help with please.

Note - the old girl had been sitting for 8ish years with 1/4 tank of fuel and a half full radiator…

1. After taking her for a drive today I have a rusty, sludgy substance in the radiator. Plus the radiator had emptied slightly (via the overflow pipe).
The truck seemed to heat up quicker than usual, but leveled out when I put the fan on and it didn’t overheat.

*I recently removed the radiator to weld a crack and whilst out I flushed with fresh water… then filled with coolant and water upon fix.
There was clearly a lot of rust in the radiator prior to removing and I’m wondering if it’s just the built up rust now breaking/coming off with more use/driving and thickening/becoming sludgy?

2. I had started the truck a number of times over the past few months and it was fine (even after not being started for 8yrs), then one day it stalled and I realized I’d run it out of fuel…. After half filling the tank and taking it for a drive it just started coughing and stalling (it just sounded like it was choking). I checked all the pipes for air and bled the line, but kept happening. Then it all of a sudden came right during a drive (the 4th attempt of the day)…. Until today when I ran the diesel out again. So again filled half the tank and bang, it started choking and coughing again like it wasn’t getting fuel.

The mechanic helping thought originally it might’ve been the pump, but I thought it might’ve been the build up of crap over the past 8yrs…. Then when it happen again today after running the diesel low I’m again thinking the crap in the bottom of the tank is clogging up the lines.
* I bled the line today after filling the tank, then took it for a drive and gave it heaps and it cleared for 30mins but came back again.

Sorry for the loooong post and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Hi Welcome
Sounds a nice motor , looking forward to seeing lots pics
Good you got it going but that long stand will have taken it’s toll as you have found
The block passageways will have rusted more being only half full of coolant
And you have seen the problems with debris in tank
So the cooling system needs a good flush and look for any additives that you can help clean it
The heater matrix can be removed and reverse flushed at same time

for the tank I would remove the sender unit and if you have skinny arms like me get inside and scrub it out
If tatty inside you could add some tank sealer like a paint and swill it around gives a nice finish and might seal small pinholes,
The fuel pick pipe should have a gauze which can tear or block so that should be cleaned then work back to pipes and new filter , dismantle lift pump and check for crap in that
If you’re draining fuel decant into clean containers and filter it before reusing.

this is good info too

http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/01/series-iia-owners-manual/

Thats what I used on my tank, I think I used less than half the can so I gave the rest to a mate that does bike restorations to use. He says it lasts a lot longer than they say on the cans but as I only have the one tank to do so it would ony get wasted.

Mine still leaked afterwards had to take the steel guard off and epoxy matted it , but it makes a nice clean interior a few times thought I’d got arm stuck past elbow

Dishwaher powder is decent for cleaning out coolant systems, you may need to flush the block with a hose until it runs clean, then reifll with water and powder and test drive it up to operating temperature, drain flush refill repeat until it is as clean as you can get it.
I have also used CTFR in plain water to clean coolant ystems, and brick acid cleaner which does a really good job very quickly, but use that at your own peril! did both my boat engines with brick acid a few months ago, they have never been so clean inside.
Plus of course there is good old central heaitng cleaning/flush additive from toolstation etc.

steve2286w said:

Hi Welcome
Sounds a nice motor , looking forward to seeing lots pics
Good you got it going but that long stand will have taken it’s toll as you have found
The block passageways will have rusted more being only half full of coolant
And you have seen the problems with debris in tank
So the cooling system needs a good flush and look for any additives that you can help clean it
The heater matrix can be removed and reverse flushed at same time

for the tank I would remove the sender unit and if you have skinny arms like me get inside and scrub it out
If tatty inside you could add some tank sealer like a paint and swill it around gives a nice finish and might seal small pinholes,
The fuel pick pipe should have a gauze which can tear or block so that should be cleaned then work back to pipes and new filter , dismantle lift pump and check for crap in that
If you’re draining fuel decant into clean containers and filter it before reusing.

this is good info tooView attachment 246304View attachment 246305

http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/01/series-iia-owners-manual/

Click to expand...

Impressed that you can get your arm into a Series tank, I don't think I could even get my hand in!

But generally agreeing with all that. Except that if my fuel was 8 years old, I would get rid of it altogether.

I don't know what the situation is in New Zealand, but over here, diesel now contains up to 7% veg oil, which by coincidence is quite a good fuel system cleaner.

Turboman said:

mpressed that you can get your arm into a Series tank, I don't think I could even get my hand in!

Click to expand...

You been eatin too much spinach

Turboman said:

But generally agreeing with all that. Except that if my fuel was 8 years old, I would get rid of it altogether

Click to expand...

he’s half filled tank twice so fuel,should be ok if cleaned , if it still looks a bit dodgy , can ad it a bit at time

steve2286w said:

he’s half filled tank twice so fuel,should be ok if cleaned ,

Click to expand...

Stirred up the sludge and water, and given the bugs some fresh stuff to feed on. Yummy!