dmayhew

I will soon be removing the radiator from my 71 car and cleaning and painting it.

Eastwood makes a Gloss paint for uses on radiators that is thinner than standard paint and allows better cooling.

My questions are..
Is this paint only for teh core and not the tanks?

Also is it is for the tanks , does it require a special primer?

Seems like the special black paint will be moot if there is not a special primer. And if no primer is used I do not feel the black paint will hold up and stick

Thanks
David

halfmoontrail

My radiator guy with a zillion years of experience uses cheap rattle can spray paint like Krylon, in gloss black, sticks fine and holds up fine.

Steve

Durango_Boy

If you want to properly paint the tanks, clean them very good and use a self etching metal primer. Then paint with the rad paint, and it should hold up fine.

dmayhew

Matthew & Steve

Thanks for the fast and helpful answers

The forum comes thru again

David

crazywelder

You should use an epoxy resin based paint. Epoxy paints will adhere to metals and other surfaces without using primer. Since it is a small part, you can use a spray can which would give you the advantage of not having to mix paint and a cost savings. VHT sells epoxy paints in spray cans and for a correct restoration you'll want a semi-gloss black. VHT calls it satin black. Most speed shops and Jegs sell VHT products.

7T1vette

Will epoxy paint transfer heat like standard radiator paint? If not, you may lose some cooling efficiency with the thicker coating.

427SIXPACK

IF I WERE YOU I'D ASK TOM @ DEWITTS
HE IS THE KING OF RADIATORS

crazywelder

This is from Dewitts web site:

CORVETTE RESTO RADIATORS

Every replacement aluminum radiator sold today comes bare aluminum. To keep our product on the same level we offer the base price and option (941 & 942 only) to detail the radiator for high level shows. Detailing includes, painting the radiator a black semi-gloss epoxy base paint, stamping the GM part number and date code, Harrison label, ink stamp, and the correct aluminum drain valve assembly. Depending on the model, some of these requirements vary.

Alan 71

Hi David,
How are you?
As others have mentioned heat transfer is an issue, and also, the thin paint will not build up in the core and restrict airflow through it.
Regards,
Alan

0Tom@Dewitt

The reality is, no paint will transfer heat. The companies that sell "special paint" are packaging whatever they can get and calling it radiator paint. I used to use Eastwood as touch up, and they used to use a fast drying laquer based product and then switched to the slow dry enamel. I asked why they changed and they told me a new vendor was cheaper.
Many people will tell you that painting a radiator will ruin it or lower the cooling performance but that's just a false theory, based on nothing but a gut feeling. We actually tested a radiators thermal rejection before and after painting and it had no difference. The only way you could ruin a radiator with paint would be if you were to "dip" paint them. In that case, the fin and tube area would load up with paint and that would never flow out.
End tanks do not have any cooling effect whatsoever, so you can paint the hell out of these and it won't make any difference. When you paint the fin & tube area, that's where you want to use the least amount. It actually pretty hard to get this area covered, because the paint flows right through. It might take two cans of spray bombs to do one radiator but you will never hurt the performance with that much paint. I use epoxy and the one mentioned above sound like a good solution.

dmayhew

Thanks to all

Especially Tm DeWitt for the very detailed asnwer.

Once again this forum proves to be a 1st rate asset for Corvette owners

dmayhew

Hey Alan

All is well in NC , hope the same is true in MD.

Did you decide to get your valve covers re worked.

Once I get this radiator back in , I am thru with the big stuff for this year.


Time for cruise in's and car shows and spending time with friends


David