Harrison rad
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 44
From: Penticton B.C. Canada
Harrison rad
I'm doing an engine swap in my '65 and I'd like to get my rad serviced while it's out. It's an original Harrison in good cond. What words should I use at the rad shop? It's pretty old and I don't want them screwing it up. I just want it boiled out or whatever.
Were those radiators painted when new or unpainted aluminum? It was painted black at sometime in it's life, I wonder how to get the black paint off if it is supposed to be bare aluminum?
[Modified by 00fxd, 10:40 PM 3/4/2004]
Were those radiators painted when new or unpainted aluminum? It was painted black at sometime in it's life, I wonder how to get the black paint off if it is supposed to be bare aluminum?
[Modified by 00fxd, 10:40 PM 3/4/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Harrison rad (00fxd)
There's no way to "boil out" or "de-scale" the original aluminum Harrison radiators without damaging them, and they're not repairable. If your radiator is indeed original, it has lost 30%-40% of its original heat rejection capability due to internal scale buildup inside the plate segments. They were originally painted gloss black.
Your best bet is to replace it with a DeWitt's reproduction if you want to regain the original cooling capacity - there's a group purhase going on right now. :thumbs:
Your best bet is to replace it with a DeWitt's reproduction if you want to regain the original cooling capacity - there's a group purhase going on right now. :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 44
From: Penticton B.C. Canada
Re: Harrison rad (JohnZ)
Thanks John;
I was afraid of that. It looks original with the 'Harrison' sticker. How do they damage them at the rad shop? I'd like to back flush it or something.
I was afraid of that. It looks original with the 'Harrison' sticker. How do they damage them at the rad shop? I'd like to back flush it or something.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
Re: Harrison rad (00fxd)
Thanks John;
I was afraid of that. It looks original with the 'Harrison' sticker. How do they damage them at the rad shop? I'd like to back flush it or something.
I was afraid of that. It looks original with the 'Harrison' sticker. How do they damage them at the rad shop? I'd like to back flush it or something.
Your radiator is almost 40 years old. Certain parts have a reasonable life span, kind of like tires. When tires are balled no one questions throwing them out. Aluminum radiators develop internal corosion after several years. This build up reduces the cooling capacity of the radiator regardless of how good it looks on the outside. So many "good looking" radiators just don't work that good any more. Many times this leads people to think the stock radiators weren't that good, they are.
Many have tried to "boil out" the crud, but it's that crud that is acting as a sealant. The walls of the aluminum radiator may have rotted out to the point there are holes and when you remove the crud, you kill the radiator.
Keep in mind, the normal life expectancy of a radiator is about 10-12 years. So we might push this because of the classic cars status and go twice that, say 20 years if it was changed every two year. (yea right) But to even try and salavge a radiator that is 40 years old, I'd say the tires are balled and the belts are showing. td
