X2 on a laser gun. reportedly HF has one for cheap which works well for what it is. This'll tell you if the rad is the prob WO having to mess with it. flushing can sometimes not be enough and rodding is good but can weaken the tubes in a rad that is already weakened & make it leak on down the line & alot depends on the skill of the guy at the rad shop. If you have an emissions testing station they can stick the probe into the airspace above the coolant level & tell you in seconds if it shows hydrocarbons (combustion leak) while running & a rad shop can pump it up to 15 lbs & see if it holds psi & best is to borrow a gauge & let it set overnight (do it when it is hot). A car down south may have been run WO antifreeze & may have extensive rust inside & pulling a core plug & visual & blasting it with the car wash wand might help with that. You said it runs hot all the time right? even out on the highway?. Holler back with any news. What Rhino said I would not butcher the car by opening up the supports on the side.