I bought a new radiator core from Tom DeWitt and wonder what is the correct type of paint for the radiator and shroud.
Thanks, Walt Weems
Thanks, Walt Weems
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Re: radiator paint
Eastwood sells a 'paint' called Radiator Black part # 10040Z in a spray can which is thinner consistency than regular paint. Regular paint, I am told, will reduce the cooling capacity of your radiator fins as it is to thick and allows heat retention whereas, supposedly, the Radiator Black is much thinner and allows the radiator to loose the heat as it should to keep your engine cool. It has a heat dissipating formula. I used it on my 68 and it worked great. One can was enough to do my entire radiator. It is gloss black in color. -
Re: radiator paint
Kurt,
Thanks for the tip. I should have added that my car is a 67. The paint on the old radiator looks close to flat, but the shroud has more gloss. I only want to paint this once.
Walt WeemsComment
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Re: radiator paint
WALT.......I JUST PURCASED ONE FROM DeWITT MYSELF FOR MY 66......PAINT SHOULD BE CORRECT.....SEMI GLOSS BLACK...BTW, MINE IS FACTORY A/C WHICH WAS OVER HEATING AT IDLE WHEN THE A/C WAS ON.....ONCE I REPLACED IT WITH DeWITT'S ..SHE RUNS EXTRA COOL NOW! WOW! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!.....BOBComment
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Re: radiator paint
walt
I had a new radiator core installed in my 57 and the local shop who installed it did spray just the core with a special black that covered the fins but would not restrict the air flow the paint is diff. than normal paint could you just go to a local radiator shop and have them paint the core
like other post if you use wrong paint it will reduce air flow
paulComment
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Re: radiator paint
Walt,
When I used this paint on my new radiator from DeWitts, it did not have a very glossy appearance. In fact , it looked, and still looks, semi flat. It is not a high gloss so I really don't know why they call it gloss black. You may wish to experiment on the radiator you removed to see if you like the finish. Maybe the heat of the radiator somehow reduced the gloss, I really don't know, but I do know that it did not have a high gloss sheen.
KurtComment
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Re: radiator paint
Unless you apply an extraordinary amount, any paint will not restrict the air flow. It may, however, reduce the heat transfer cooefficient (cool less).
VerleComment
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I would love to know...
...given a new aluminum (or brass/copper) radiator: (& all things being =)
1. Does black paint improve cooling capability?
2. And if so, by how much - in degrees F...?
Thanks, DennisComment
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Re: I would love to know...
If you check out all the radiators on the NASCAR teams, you will have your answer. NONE are painted and if there was ANY advantage to be gained.......Comment
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Myron... Thank you, thank you very much... DC *NM*
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Re: I would love to know...
Dennis,
Years ago we had two identical radiators tested for heat disipation. One painted and one bare. There was no differece in btu.
This is one of the many radiator myths our there and I often hear people say it's a FACT. A fact based on....hmmmm...well... I thought...
Now you could ruin a radiator if you "dip" coated it because radiator hold a lot of fluid. When we test radiators in water tanks it takes hours to get them dry inside the fin, days if we don't run fans on them. When you "spray' paint on the radiator 90% goes on the end tanks and side channel and very little gets inside the tube and fin area. Everyone knows paint does not like to turn corners, so most of the paint sprayed at the core area goes right through. I guess if you painted and painted and re-painted, it might have some effect, but I guarantee you there is no paint that "helps" cooling. That's just ridiculous.
Now for the Eastwood paint...Eastwood does not make this product, they buy it and put labels on the can. I used to buy it years ago for touch up at shows and it was great stuff, then they changed the formula and/or vendor. The new stuff wasn't glossy and it took forever to dry. I prefer Krylon 1601 now.Comment
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